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Multi-lifecycle Assessment of Close-loop Recyclable Wind Turbine Blades
Kyle Pender1,2, Filippo Romoli1,2, Jonathan Fuller1,2
1University of Bristol, Beacon House, Queens Rd, Bristol, BS8 1QU UK.
Materials Circular Economy
|January 29, 2026
Summary
Recycling wind turbine blades into new materials significantly cuts environmental impact. Recycled thermoplastic and glass fibre reduce global warming potential, aiding the wind energy sector
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Wind turbine blades, predominantly composite materials, pose end-of-life management challenges despite high recyclability.
- Transitioning the wind energy sector to a circular economy necessitates advanced recycling for high-quality secondary materials.
- Current practices lack scalable and sustainable solutions for managing composite wind blade waste.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the environmental impact of producing recycled glass fibre and thermoplastic (PMMA) from wind blade waste.
- To evaluate the potential of recycling technologies in supporting a circular economy for wind energy.
- To compare the environmental footprint of recycled materials versus virgin counterparts.
Main Methods:
- Lifecycle assessment (LCA) was employed to evaluate environmental impacts.
- Thermolysis recycling of thermoplastic-based blade waste was analyzed, including monomer recovery.
- Recycled glass fibre production via cleaning and remelting of recyclates was assessed.
Main Results:
- Recycled thermoplastic and glass fibre products show reduced environmental impacts compared to virgin materials.
- Material production global warming potential decreased by up to 54% for recycled thermoplastic and 26% for recycled glass fibre.
- Wind blades using recycled materials are projected to have a 27% lower cradle-to-grave global warming potential.
Conclusions:
- Recycling composite wind blade waste offers significant environmental benefits, including reduced global warming potential.
- The developed material and recycling solutions facilitate the decarbonization of wind energy production.
- These advancements are critical for establishing a circular economy within the wind blade industry.
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