Siemens Gamesa Launches Wind Turbine with RecyclableBlades — a World’s First
In recent reports, Siemens Gamesa launched RecyclableBlade for wind turbines. The technology, a world’s first of its kind, is commercially ready for offshore use.
Siemens Gamesa CEO Andreas Nauen says that the company envisions a society that centers caring for the environment as its goal. “The time to tackle climate emergency is now, and we need to do it in a holistic way. In pioneering wind circularity — where elements contribute to a circular economy of the wind industry — we have reached a major milestone in a society that puts care for the environment at its heart,” he said. “The RecyclableBlade is another tangible example of how Siemens Gamesa is leading technological development in the wind industry.”
Siemens Gamesa’s RecylableBlade vs. Existing Wind Turbines
While existing wind turbines have some of their components such as the tower and the nacelle that are recyclable, having recyclable blades has remained a challenge. That is, until the launch of the company’s newest technology.
Existing wind turbine blades are made of polymer composites that contain a variety of materials, including glass, carbon fiber, wood, and a resin system. As the blades are manufactured, these components bind together, making it difficult to be separated once the turbines are decommissioned.
Siemens Gamesa’s RecyclableBlades, on the other hand, makes use of a new type of resin. This enables efficient separation at the end of the life of the equipment. Being separated, the materials may not be conveniently recycled.
The first six 81-meter long RecyclableBlades were made in Denmark. The industrial giant aims to make all turbines fully recyclable by 2040.
It is also working with RWE Renewables with the installation and monitoring of the wind turbines in Germany at the Kaskasi offshore wind power plant, where energy production is projected for 2022 onwards.
RWE Renewables Wind Offshore CEO Sven Utermöhlen expressed his enthusiasm for the innovative project. “We are pleased that our offshore wind farm Kaskasi is able to provide a fantastic facility for testing innovations; here we are preparing to test special steel collars and to use an improved installation method for foundations,” he said. “Now, Kaskasi installs the world’s first recyclable wind turbine blade manufactured by Siemens Gamesa. This is a significant step in advancing the sustainability of wind turbines to the next level.”
Source:
Carina Isobel at Engineer Rosie
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