Waste Management of Wind Turbine Blades—A Review of Recycling Methods and Applications in Cementitious Composites

Abstract

The decommissioned blades of wind turbines represent a contemporary challenge for waste management. The composites used in their construction, primarily thermosetting materials, as well as fiberglass and carbon fibers, present a range of challenges in terms of recycling these components. Depending on the region of the world, various legal regulations govern the disposal of these elements. One example of a ban is Germany, which, according to forecasts, is also expected to experience the highest accumulation of such waste in Europe. The article is based on a systematic review of the literature, including 59 sources, more than half of which were published in the last five years. The discussion covers the availability of common waste management methods, as well as examples of reusing these components in whole, in part, or after processing. The review emphasizes the need to explore solutions for utilizing wind turbine blades to minimize waste and reduce the consumption of natural resources by recycling waste material. Finally, the authors propose using mechanically shredded elements from wind turbine blades as an additive in cement mixtures.