Solutions for recycling emerging wind turbine blade waste in China are not yet effective

Juhua Yang; Fanran Meng; Lixiao Zhang; Jon McKechnie; Yuan Chang; Bingran Ma; Yan Hao; Xiang Li; Kyle Pender; Liu Yang; Gary A. Leeke; Jonathan M. Cullen

doi:10.1038/s43247-023-01104-w

Solutions for recycling emerging wind turbine blade waste in China are not yet effective

Juhua Yang, Fanran Meng, Lixiao Zhang, Jon McKechnie, Yuan Chang, Bingran Ma, Yan Hao, Xiang Li, Kyle Pender, Liu Yang, Gary A. Leeke, Jonathan M. Cullen

Mechanical And Aerospace Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Wind power supply chains are evolving as markets expand to reach climate goals. With the largest installed wind power capacity globally, China must deal with increasing composite turbine waste and anticipate its associated costs. Here we predict the quantity and composition of wind turbine blade waste based on historic deployment. A high-resolution database containing 14 turbine capacities (150–5500 kilowatts) was compiled based on 104 turbine models. The environmental and financial costs of waste treatment options were evaluated using a bottom-up approach. Based on current installations and future projections, 7.7 to 23.1 million tonnes of blade waste will be generated in China by 2050. Technologies exist to recycle glass fibre from blade waste, but these solutions vary in level of maturity and are not always commercially available, cost-competitive, or environmentally sustainable. Our findings can inform decision-makers in governments and industry on the pathways to carbon neutrality.

Original language	English
Article number	466
Number of pages	14
Journal	Communications Earth & Environment
Volume	4
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01104-w
Publication status	Published - 12 Dec 2023

Keywords

wind power
blade waste
life cycle assessment
glass fibre
composites
China
energy policy
environmental impact

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1038/s43247-023-01104-wLicence: CC BY 4.0

Yang-etal-CEE-2023-Solutions-for-recycling-emerging-wind-turbine-blade-waste-in-China-are-not-yet-effectiveFinal published version, 1.68 MBLicence: CC BY 4.0

Cite this

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title = "Solutions for recycling emerging wind turbine blade waste in China are not yet effective",

abstract = "Wind power supply chains are evolving as markets expand to reach climate goals. With the largest installed wind power capacity globally, China must deal with increasing composite turbine waste and anticipate its associated costs. Here we predict the quantity and composition of wind turbine blade waste based on historic deployment. A high-resolution database containing 14 turbine capacities (150–5500 kilowatts) was compiled based on 104 turbine models. The environmental and financial costs of waste treatment options were evaluated using a bottom-up approach. Based on current installations and future projections, 7.7 to 23.1 million tonnes of blade waste will be generated in China by 2050. Technologies exist to recycle glass fibre from blade waste, but these solutions vary in level of maturity and are not always commercially available, cost-competitive, or environmentally sustainable. Our findings can inform decision-makers in governments and industry on the pathways to carbon neutrality.",

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T1 - Solutions for recycling emerging wind turbine blade waste in China are not yet effective

AU - Yang, Juhua

AU - Meng, Fanran

AU - Zhang, Lixiao

AU - McKechnie, Jon

AU - Chang, Yuan

AU - Ma, Bingran

AU - Hao, Yan

AU - Li, Xiang

AU - Pender, Kyle

AU - Yang, Liu

AU - Leeke, Gary A.

AU - Cullen, Jonathan M.

PY - 2023/12/12

Y1 - 2023/12/12

N2 - Wind power supply chains are evolving as markets expand to reach climate goals. With the largest installed wind power capacity globally, China must deal with increasing composite turbine waste and anticipate its associated costs. Here we predict the quantity and composition of wind turbine blade waste based on historic deployment. A high-resolution database containing 14 turbine capacities (150–5500 kilowatts) was compiled based on 104 turbine models. The environmental and financial costs of waste treatment options were evaluated using a bottom-up approach. Based on current installations and future projections, 7.7 to 23.1 million tonnes of blade waste will be generated in China by 2050. Technologies exist to recycle glass fibre from blade waste, but these solutions vary in level of maturity and are not always commercially available, cost-competitive, or environmentally sustainable. Our findings can inform decision-makers in governments and industry on the pathways to carbon neutrality.

AB - Wind power supply chains are evolving as markets expand to reach climate goals. With the largest installed wind power capacity globally, China must deal with increasing composite turbine waste and anticipate its associated costs. Here we predict the quantity and composition of wind turbine blade waste based on historic deployment. A high-resolution database containing 14 turbine capacities (150–5500 kilowatts) was compiled based on 104 turbine models. The environmental and financial costs of waste treatment options were evaluated using a bottom-up approach. Based on current installations and future projections, 7.7 to 23.1 million tonnes of blade waste will be generated in China by 2050. Technologies exist to recycle glass fibre from blade waste, but these solutions vary in level of maturity and are not always commercially available, cost-competitive, or environmentally sustainable. Our findings can inform decision-makers in governments and industry on the pathways to carbon neutrality.

KW - wind power

KW - blade waste

KW - life cycle assessment

KW - glass fibre

KW - composites

KW - China

KW - energy policy

KW - environmental impact

U2 - 10.1038/s43247-023-01104-w

DO - 10.1038/s43247-023-01104-w

M3 - Article

SN - 2662-4435

VL - 4

JO - Communications Earth & Environment

JF - Communications Earth & Environment

IS - 1

M1 - 466

ER -

Solutions for recycling emerging wind turbine blade waste in China are not yet effective

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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