IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v202y2024ics1364032124004167.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Recovering glass fibers from waste wind turbine blades: Recycling methods, fiber properties, and potential utilization

Author

Listed:
  • Xu, Ming-xin
  • Ji, Hai-wen
  • Wu, Ya-chang
  • Meng, Xiang-xi
  • Di, Jin-yi
  • Yang, Jie
  • Lu, Qiang

Abstract

As the global demand for wind power continues to increase, there is growing concern about the disposal of waste wind turbine blades, which are predominantly composed of glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites. This review provides an overview of recent advancements in the recovery of glass fibers from waste wind turbines, examining various recycling techniques including mechanical recycling, pyrolysis, combustion, and chemical solvolysis. Additionally, the review assesses the impact of each technique on the properties of the recovered glass fibers and explores potential secondary applications for these fibers. Notably, the review emphasizes the significant impact of recycling methods on the characteristics of recovered glass fibers and establishes meaningful connections among recycling approaches, fiber properties, and potential applications. Furthermore, the review offers insights into future research directions and technological advancements needed to address current challenges in this field. The objective of this review is to advance knowledge and technology for addressing waste wind turbine blades and promoting the sustainable utilization of recovered glass fibers.

Suggested Citation

  • Xu, Ming-xin & Ji, Hai-wen & Wu, Ya-chang & Meng, Xiang-xi & Di, Jin-yi & Yang, Jie & Lu, Qiang, 2024. "Recovering glass fibers from waste wind turbine blades: Recycling methods, fiber properties, and potential utilization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:202:y:2024:i:c:s1364032124004167
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2024.114690
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032124004167
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2024.114690?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Omid Zabihi & Mojtaba Ahmadi & Chao Liu & Roya Mahmoodi & Quanxiang Li & Mahmoud Reza Ghandehari Ferdowsi & Minoo Naebe, 2020. "A Sustainable Approach to the Low-Cost Recycling of Waste Glass Fibres Composites towards Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-10, January.
    2. Majewski, Peter & Florin, Nick & Jit, Joytishna & Stewart, Rodney A., 2022. "End-of-life policy considerations for wind turbine blades," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    3. Jensen, J.P. & Skelton, K., 2018. "Wind turbine blade recycling: Experiences, challenges and possibilities in a circular economy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 165-176.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mumtaz, Hamza & Sobek, Szymon & Sajdak, Marcin & Muzyka, Roksana & Werle, Sebastian, 2023. "An experimental investigation and process optimization of the oxidative liquefaction process as the recycling method of the end-of-life wind turbine blades," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 269-278.
    2. Furszyfer Del Rio, Dylan D. & Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Foley, Aoife M. & Griffiths, Steve & Bazilian, Morgan & Kim, Jinsoo & Rooney, David, 2022. "Decarbonizing the glass industry: A critical and systematic review of developments, sociotechnical systems and policy options," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    3. Oh, So Young & Joung, Chanwoo & Lee, Seonghwan & Shim, Yoon-Bo & Lee, Dahun & Cho, Gyu-Eun & Jang, Juhyeong & Lee, In Yong & Park, Young-Bin, 2024. "Condition-based maintenance of wind turbine structures: A state-of-the-art review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    4. Chen, Zhiyuan & Wang, Feng & Wang, Tieli & He, Rulin & Hu, Jieli & Li, Li & Luo, Ying & Qin, Yingling & Wang, Dingliang, 2024. "A real options approach to renewable energy module end-of-life decisions under multiple uncertainties: Application to PV and wind in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    5. Francisco Haces-Fernandez, 2020. "GoWInD: Wind Energy Spatiotemporal Assessment and Characterization of End-of-Life Activities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-20, November.
    6. Sara Taherinezhad Tayebi & Matteo Sambucci & Marco Valente, 2024. "Waste Management of Wind Turbine Blades: A Comprehensive Review on Available Recycling Technologies with A Focus on Overcoming Potential Environmental Hazards Caused by Microplastic Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-24, May.
    7. Winkler, Lorenz & Kilic, Onur A. & Veldman, Jasper, 2022. "Collaboration in the offshore wind farm decommissioning supply chain," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    8. Sandra Sorte & Nelson Martins & Mónica S. A. Oliveira & German L. Vela & Carlos Relvas, 2023. "Unlocking the Potential of Wind Turbine Blade Recycling: Assessing Techniques and Metrics for Sustainability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-28, November.
    9. Elia, A. & Taylor, M. & Ó Gallachóir, B. & Rogan, F., 2020. "Wind turbine cost reduction: A detailed bottom-up analysis of innovation drivers," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    10. Emma L. Delaney & Paul G. Leahy & Jennifer M. McKinley & T. Russell Gentry & Angela J. Nagle & Jeffrey Elberling & Lawrence C. Bank, 2023. "Sustainability Implications of Current Approaches to End-of-Life of Wind Turbine Blades—A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-19, August.
    11. Lund, K.W. & Madsen, E.S., 2024. "State-of-the-art value chain roadmap for sustainable end-of-life wind turbine blades," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    12. Mário Joel Ramos Júnior & Diego Lima Medeiros & Joyce Batista Azevedo & Edna dos Santos Almeida, 2025. "Wind Turbine Blade Decommissioning in Brazil: The Economic Performance of Energy Recovery in a Cement Kiln Compared to Industrial Landfill Site," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-22, January.
    13. Beauson, J. & Laurent, A. & Rudolph, D.P. & Pagh Jensen, J., 2022. "The complex end-of-life of wind turbine blades: A review of the European context," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    14. Anne P. M. Velenturf, 2021. "A Framework and Baseline for the Integration of a Sustainable Circular Economy in Offshore Wind," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-41, September.
    15. Dongwang Zhang & Zhong Huang & Xiaobei Shi & Xiaofei Sun & Tuo Zhou & Hairui Yang & Rushan Bie & Man Zhang, 2024. "Experimental Study and Process Simulation on Pyrolysis Characteristics of Decommissioned Wind Turbine Blades," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-16, July.
    16. Liu, Y. & Hajj, M. & Bao, Y., 2022. "Review of robot-based damage assessment for offshore wind turbines," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    17. Lund, Kristine Wilhelm & Nielsen, Mikkel Liep & Madsen, Erik Skov, 2023. "Sustainability assessment of new technologies using multi criteria decision making: A framework and application in sectioning end-of-life wind turbine blades," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    18. Sandra Bulińska & Agnieszka Sujak & Michał Pyzalski, 2024. "From Waste to Renewables: Challenges and Opportunities in Recycling Glass Fibre Composite Products from Wind Turbine Blades for Sustainable Cement Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-23, June.
    19. Kai-Yen Chin & Angus Shiue & Yi-Jing Wu & Shu-Mei Chang & Yeou-Fong Li & Ming-Yuan Shen & Graham Leggett, 2022. "Studies on Recycling Silane Controllable Recovered Carbon Fiber from Waste CFRP," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-12, January.
    20. Liang, Yanan & Kleijn, René & Tukker, Arnold & van der Voet, Ester, 2022. "Material requirements for low-carbon energy technologies: A quantitative review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:202:y:2024:i:c:s1364032124004167. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.