Thanks to a novel material that can be dissolved and repurposed at the end of its life cycle, wind turbine blades could soon be turned into gummy bears.
The scientists who developed the composite material stated that it may also be used to create countertops, sinks, automobile taillights, laptop covers, and even diapers.
Experts at Michigan State University in the United States invented it by combining glass fibers with plant-derived and synthetic polymers.
Wind power is an increasingly popular renewable energy source, but disposing of the enormous turbine blades after 20 to 25 years is problematic.
The blades, which are made from a “composite” of fiberglass and resin that can resist hurricane-force winds while being light enough to turn, cannot be broken or recycled without significant effort.
By 2050, it is anticipated that the global community will need to dispose of two million tonnes of wind turbine blade trash annually. The annual volume reaches 100,000 tonnes in the United Kingdom.
The majority of deactivated blades are currently buried in landfills, where they will remain for generations.
However, according to Dr. John Dorgan and his colleagues at Michigan State University, the novel composite material used to create these behemoths may be recycled into new turbine blades or a variety of other items in the future.
What the substance becomes depends on how the scientists manage it, but it can be changed into sweets and sports beverages using an alkaline solution.
Dr. Dorgan stated, “We recovered food-grade potassium lactate and utilized it to produce gummy bears, which I ate.”
A carbon atom obtained from a plant, such as corn or grass, is identical to a carbon atom derived from fossil fuel, he added.
It is all part of the global carbon cycle, and we’ve demonstrated that we can go from biomass in the field to durable plastic materials and then back to food.
Given that some wind turbines are as long as a football field, that’s a lot of gummy bears.
However, the potential for this new material does not end there.
An alkaline solution can also be used to build windows and car taillights, and by combining it with various minerals, it can be used to create stone, which can be used to make countertops and sinks.
Dr. Dorgan stated, “We recently constructed a bathroom sink using cultured stone, so we know it works.”
Even though some businesses have found ways to recycle fiberglass blades, they are often discarded as they reach the end of their useful life.
As blades are continually being replaced and discarded, experts worry that this scenario could deteriorate.
Dr. Dorgan said: ‘Larger wind turbine blades are more efficient, so corporations are creating bigger and bigger ones.
Typically, wind farms will replace their turbine blades before the end of their service life since larger blades allow the farms to generate more power.
This is why Dr. Dorgan’s novel material could significantly improve the long-term viability of wind turbines.
He stated, “The beauty of our resin system is that we can dissolve it at the end of its usage cycle, so releasing it from whatever matrix it’s in so that it can be used in an infinite loop.”
The group, who presented their findings at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in Chicago, now intends to create medium-sized blades to test their findings.
The only concern is the restricted availability of the bioplastic they require.
Dr. Dorgan continued, ‘The current issue is that we’re not using enough bioplastic to meet this market, so significant manufacturing volume must be brought online before wind turbines can be manufactured from these materials.’
