Recycling Wind Turbine Blades into High-Performance Ecopolymers for a Circular Economy
ABOUT IT
FibeCycle's project focuses on the sustainable recycling of discarded wind turbine blades, transforming them into high-performance ecopolymers with a negative carbon footprint. As the demand for renewable energy grows, so does the accumulation of discarded wind turbine blades. Currently, the main options for disposing of these blades are landfilling and incineration, both with significant environmental impacts.
This project has a national scope, operating especially in the South and North regions of Brazil, areas with a dense concentration of wind farms. The strategic location facilitates the logistics of collecting and processing the blades, and ideally positions FibeCycle to serve both suppliers and customers of recycled ecopolymers.
Through this approach, FibeCycle establishes itself as an innovative and differentiating solution in the recycling market, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional landfill and incineration practices, and realigning the renewable energy sector with its environmental commitments.
Results and Objectives
Project Objectives:
Environmental:
- Waste Reduction: Decrease the amount of wind turbine blades sent to landfills, thereby reducing soil pollution and contamination by non-biodegradable materials.
- Reducing CO2 Emissions: Recycling each ton of material through FibeCycle results in a reduction of two tons of carbon dioxide, strengthening global efforts against climate change.
Economic:
- Creating Value from Waste: Converting an environmental liability into high-value products for sectors such as automotive, construction, and additive manufacturing.
- Promoting the Circular Economy: Implementing a sustainable and economically viable business model, encouraging the reuse of materials.
Industrial:
- Offering a Sustainable and Circular Solution to the Wind Energy Industry: Providing an alternative that allows the wind energy industry to manage its waste responsibly and sustainably, aligning disposal practices with circular economy principles.
Main Expected Results:
Sustainable Production: Establish an efficient production line to convert discarded wind turbine blades into high-performance ecopolymers, with the capacity to process a significant amount of material per year.
Reduction of CO2 Emissions: Achieve a quantifiable reduction in CO2 emissions, specifically aiming for a reduction of at least 2 tons of CO2 for every ton of recycled material processed.
Product Development: Develop and test ecopolymers to ensure they meet the quality standards required for specific industrial applications, such as automotive, construction, and additive manufacturing.
Implementation of Strategic Partnerships: Forming partnerships with manufacturers and other companies within the wind energy and manufacturing industry value chain to ensure a stable supply of raw materials and a channel for the distribution of the produced ecopolymers.
Certifications and Compliance: Obtain all necessary certifications that validate the sustainability and quality of the product, as well as ensure that the project complies with national and international environmental regulations.
Project Completion Deadline:
Implementation and Testing Phase (0-12 months): Production line setup, equipment acquisition, and commencement of initial processing tests.
Optimization Phase (12-24 months): Refinement of production processes and product development, including intensive testing to ensure compliance with technical specifications and quality standards.
Launch and Commercialization Phase (24-36 months): Start of full-scale production and market launch, establishment of sales and marketing channels, and expansion of strategic partnerships.
Evaluation and Scaling (36-48 months): Review of initial results, adjustments to the process as needed, and planning for expansion and increased production capacity.
SDGs
External Certification
No
International Commitments
National Commitments
National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS), National Climate Change Policy
More info
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