Wind turbine blades typically have a lifespan of 20 to 25 years and are difficult to recycle due to their material makeup. (Image credit: Pxhere)
Wind has become a promising solution in renewable energy, with wind turbines playing a vital role in harnessing that resource. As the wind energy industry continues to grow, it faces a significant challenge in dealing with waste generated by turbine blades. Specifically, the materials used to manufacture them and the issues of recycling the blades after reaching the end of their lifespan.
Wind turbines have a limited lifespan, around 20 to 25 years, due to being subjected to the elements and damage caused by bird strikes. Once they reach the end of their operational life, the blades need to be replaced, but due to their size and material composition (typically carbon fiber, fiberglass and resin), recycling or dumping them in a landfill is not a straightforward process. Their disposal presents several challenges – first, their size, which can be up to 75 feet long, makes transport and storage of the used blades difficult. Second, their composite materials make them a challenge to separate and recycle, which often leads to them ending up at the bottom of the ocean or in landfills.
The wind industry is actively seeking solutions to those issues and is looking at ways to improve their recyclability and disposal methods. One involves developing new composite materials that are easy to recycle. Others are looking at ways to repurpose the materials to produce new products or use them as building materials, such as replacing the steel girders in bridges or used for street lighting.
That being said, effectively managing the waste generated by wind turbine blades requires a collaborative effort involving stakeholders, researchers and policymakers. Governments can significantly contribute by encouraging research and development centered on recyclable materials and implementing regulations to ensure the responsible disposal of blades.
A quick look at some numbers:
There is a cost of $500k to manufacture the average sized wind-turbine. Average maintenance cost is around $48,000 a year. These turbines would generate about $61,000 to $114,000 a year depending on wind conditions. There is a $10,000 a year cost paid to the land owner where the turbine is placed. Assuming a lifespace of 20 years and average wind conditions...there is only profit of $90,000. Again, that's after 20 years.
(There is also an unknown installation cost for setting up a turbine. I'd imagine several thousand each. I couldn't find that data.)
Does that "profit" offset their impact on the planet?
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