The ZEBRA (Zero Waste Blade Research) project is promoted by the IRT Jules Verne Group, which brings together industrial companies and technology centers (Arkema, CANOE, ENGIE, Suez, LM Wind Power, Owens Corning) to jointly develop 100% recyclable composite wind power Generator blades.
Project to develop 100% recyclable composite wind turbine blades
Both onshore and offshore wind energy play a vital role in the transition to carbon-free energy. The product has a service life of 30 years and the recyclable rate of wind turbines is between 85% and 90%. The wind power industry is now seeking to bridge the remaining gap by designing and manufacturing the first 100% recyclable wind turbine blades.
The ZEBRA (Zero Blade Repair Project) project promoted by IRT Jules Verne now brings together industrial companies and technical centers (Arkema, CANOE, ENGIE, Suez, LM Wind Power, Owens Corning) to meet this new challenge .
This cross-industry consortium today announced a groundbreaking project to design and manufacture the first 100% recyclable wind turbine blades for the wind power industry.
Towards high-recycling composite materials
The ZEBRA (Zero Waste Blade Research) project is promoted by IRT Jules Verne. The project brings together industrial companies and technology centers to fully demonstrate the technical, economic and environmental relevance of thermoplastic wind turbine blades, and uses eco-design methods to promote recycling. The project has been launched for 42 months with a budget of 18.5 million euros.
In order to accelerate the transformation of the wind power industry to the circular economy of wind power blades, the ZEBRA project has established a strategic alliance that represents the entire value chain: from material development to blade manufacturing, to the operation and decommissioning of wind turbines, and finally recovery of retired blade materials.
Arkema developed Elium, a thermoplastic resin known for its recyclable properties by depolymerization or dissolution. The resin will be used in the ZEBRA project.
The project will benefit from CANOE's expertise in polymer formulation, carbon fiber development and polymer recycling. CANOE recently developed a very innovative fiber-reinforced acrylic composite recycling method through a dissolution method, which can recycle separate recycled methyl methacrylate monomers and recycled fibers, and achieve a high value-added recycling rate.
ENGIE is a wind farm operator managing 8.5 GW and a leader in the French wind power industry with an installed capacity of more than 2.6 GW. The goal is to take action, especially through the sustainable development of renewable technologies, to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral economy.
LM Wind Power is the designer and manufacturer of wind turbine blades and has produced more than 228,000 blades since 1978. The Cherbourg plant associated with the ZEBRA project produced the largest blade ever, measuring 107 meters in length.
Owens Corning (Owens Corning) is one of the global leaders in the field of glass fiber and composite materials, and is the inventor of the patented high-modulus glass technology, which has created a step forward in the wind energy industry in the past ten years. Change performance.
SUEZ helps cities and industries manage their resources intelligently and sustainably, and has expertise in the ecological design of the materials used and the best recycling technologies.
In the ZEBRA project, LM Wind Power will use Arkema's Elium resin to design products, process and manufacture two prototype blades to test and verify the performance of composite materials and their feasibility in industrial production. At the same time, ZEBRA project partners will focus on using automation to develop and optimize manufacturing processes to reduce energy consumption and production waste. Then, the project partners will explore ways to recycle the materials used in the prototype blades into new products. Finally, the life cycle analysis will assess the environmental and economic feasibility of further using thermoplastic materials in future wind turbine blades.
The project received support from the wind energy department
Jules Verne IRT ZEBRA project manager Céline Largeau said: "To demonstrate the cyclic method throughout the life cycle of wind turbine blades, a strategic alliance covering the entire value chain needs to be mobilized to ensure valuable and accurate industrial data and achievements. ZEBRA project It is a great opportunity to bring together Arkema, CANOE, ENGIE, LM Wind Power, Owens Corning and Suez, these companies are the main leaders in the field of wind energy. We look forward to working together constructively to improve the performance of wind energy And efficiency."
Torben K. Jacobsen, Director of Advanced Technology Systems at LM Wind Power, said: “As an important participant in the global transition to economical renewable energy, the wind energy industry is actively committed to developing new materials with higher performance, longer life and recyclable. The combination of Elium resin with design, manufacturing and recycling process optimization can provide opportunities to reduce costs, shorten production time and reduce the environmental impact of wind turbine blades. We are happy to be the launch partner to provide truly recyclable blades for future wind turbines , Leading the way to a sustainable world that can be passed on from generation to generation."