Integrating end-of-life wind turbine blades into a variety of building layers through multiple use cycles – a strategy to maximize the lifetime of wasted materials; a case study in Eemshaven

Abstract

An increasing massive volume of wind turbine blades are coming to end-of-life in the Netherlands. These components contain mostly fibre-reinforced plastics, which has been banned from landfill and incineration. Since then, companies and institutions have spent their efforts to expand the lifetime of this material by developing a circular wind hub with various circular strategies. While some strategies, such as recycling or recovery, are less desirable due to low-quality outcomes and environmental pollution, repurposing seems to be a potential option, which uses decommissioned blades in certain products, such as building elements in one-off applications. This strategy can be enhanced by reprocessing the applications through multiple-use cycles. This research will investigate that concept based on the building layers principle to figure out its feasibility and the potential to extend the lifetime of the end-of-life material.