Wind turbine blades, some of which are hundreds of feet long, are made from non-recyclable fiberglass that currently must be landfilled.
Approximately 85% of wind turbine components are recyclable, but the fiberglass blades remain a challenge with respect to safe and efficient disposal. Scientists are working on developing more sustainable ways to process resins and fiberglass components in the turbines, and one start-up has developed a method for pelletizing the components into materials for flooring and walls.
“We can process 99.9% of a blade and handle about 6,000 to 7,000 blades a year per plant,” said Global Fiberglass Solutions Chief Executive Officer Don Lilly. The company has accumulated an inventory of about one year’s worth of blades ready to be chopped up and recycled as demand increases, he said. “When we start to sell to more builders, we can take in a lot more of them. We’re just gearing up.”