Abstract:
The large-scale utilization of wind energy is the key to establishing a modern energy system, an integral prerequisite for achieving carbon peaking and neutrality as scheduled and an essential support for quality economic and social development. The installed wind power capacity continues to rise in China, by the end of 2021, the number of wind turbines has exceeded 170,000 sets, the cumulative installed blades has exceeded 3.4 million tons. Early wind turbines are being scrapped. Utilization of end-of-life wind turbine blades as a resource presents many challenges, such as disassembly and degradation difficulties. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore green and high-value utilization technology paths with large-scale consumption capability to support the green and sustainable development of wind power industry. This review analyzes the wind power industry and the growth trend of end-of-life wind turbine in China, outlines the main technical pathways of resource utilization of waste blades, and highlights several resource utilization methods of waste blades. ①Mechanical, thermal and chemical recycling methods of fiber-reinforced composites. Mechanical recycling is a simple and conventional pathway and cannot obtain long-scale fibers; thermal recycling damages the mechanical properties of long-scale fibers and makes it difficult to reuse the matrix resin; chemical recycling preserves the mechanical properties of long-scale fibers and allows for the re-use of matrix resin, but at a high cost. Therefore, to achieve the sustainable reuse of reinforcing fibers and matrix resin, it is necessary to continue investigating the low-cost recycling method of fiber-reinforced composites from waste wind turbine blades. ②The application of waste blades in concrete and other construction materials. The blade sliced into small pieces can replace natural aggregates for concrete materials, but its organic components are not conducive to cement hydration, nor are low-strength filler materials such as balsa wood conducive to the structural strength of concrete. ③The structural utilization of waste blades. Such as structural reuse in pedestrian bridges, park benches, facilities in playground, bus stops and house roofs. Reuse is simple and feasible, but the blade materials still need to be rendered non-hazardous and resourceful following the reuse cycle. This review also compares and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of various technical solutions to provide a reference for the research direction for waste wind turbine blades utilization.