REFRESH project successfully produces wind blade section from recovered fibers

Source | Gjenkraft AS

On Nov. 11, the European REFRESH project consortium announced a milestone has been reached, where CETMA (Brindisi, Italy) and Gjenkraft AS  (Høyanger, Norway) have collaborated to produce a wind turbine blade section partly made from recycled materials recovered from end-of-life (EOL) blades.

The blade section was manufactured by ÉireComposites (Galway, Ireland) and includes a nonwoven mat made from pyrolyzed glass fibers recovered from Gjenkraft’s pyrolysis process developed in Høyanger. 
 

“This is tangible proof that full circularity for wind energy is possible. We have now moved from laboratory testing to a real component that demonstrates how recycled fibers can be used in new wind blades,” says Marcin Rusin, CEO of Gjenkraft AS. “It demonstrates the power of European collaboration — where technology, innovation and sustainability come together.”

Read “REFRESH wind blade recycling data shows promising environmental benefits”

The REFRESH project, funded by the EU Horizon Europe program, brings together 11 partners to develop and demonstrate novel solutions for recycling and reusing composite materials from wind turbine blades. Gjenkraft’s role is to provide its technology, which enables almost 100% recovery of blade materials — including glass and carbon fibers, oil and gas — turning waste into valuable raw materials.

“The fact that materials from EOL wind turbines are now being reused in new blades shows that the industry is shifting from linear to circular production,” adds Arvid Lønne, Chairman of the Board at Gjenkraft. “This is a milestone for both Gjenkraft and the entire wind energy industry.”

Gjenkraft AS develops and operates technology for recycling composite waste, with a primary focus on wind turbine blades. For related content, read “Gjenkraft, Owens Corning bolster use of post-industrial fiberglass waste ” and “... to build pyrolysis-based commercial recycling plant.”