Thousands of retired wind turbine blades in the United States are finding a second life inside cement plants instead of simply being discarded.

 

Thousands of retired wind turbine blades in the United States are finding a second life inside cement plants instead of simply being discarded.

A recycling program launched by GE Renewable Energy and Veolia North America in 2020 processes decommissioned turbine blades so their composite material can be reused in cement production. The blades are cut down and shredded at a Veolia facility in Missouri, creating material that can replace part of the sand, clay and other raw ingredients normally used to make cement. Some of the polymer content can also provide energy inside the kiln, reducing the need for conventional fuel. Veolia says more than 90% of a blade’s weight can be put to use through this process. Recent reports say the program has handled more than 7,000 blades since it began, showing how one of wind energy’s most difficult end-of-life materials can be redirected into another major industry.

#WindEnergy #Recycling #CircularEconomy #CleanTechnology

References:

GE News: GE Renewable Energy Announces US Blade Recycling Contract with Veolia.

Veolia: United States, Veolia Makes Cement and Gives a Second Life to GE Renewable Energy’s Wind Turbine Blades.

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