Wind turbine blade composite materials - End of life treatment methods

It is indisputable that wind offers environmentally friendly energy. This does not mean that there is absence of environmental impact generated from manufacture, service and decommissioning. The future projections for expansion of this industry strengthens the need for optimization in all facets, considering their total life cycle as the main tool. Composite materials are commonly used in wind turbines due to their excellent mechanical properties, matched by low weight. Albeit, the recycling technologies of such materials is limited primarily because of the lack of markets. Novel concepts must be generated in improvement of manufacturing processes so as to efficiently reuse reclaimed fibres while in tandem improving their quality. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.