Critical review of current wind turbine blades’ design and materials and their influence on the end-of-life management of wind turbines

Abstract

Wind energy will likely be an essential contributor to the sustainable energy transition. However, the environmental impact of the wind sector still suffers from a poor end-of-life management of the wind turbine components. Wind turbine blades are particularly sensitive to this issue: these components are made of different materials and sub-components, often difficult to separate, segment and recycle. As a result, wind turbine blades are still mostly landfilled. In this review, the main design features and materials of wind turbine blades are presented and connected to the difficulties and opportunities related to the end-of-life management of wind turbines. Considering the possibility of life extension, structural health monitoring and repairing strategies are also discussed. Overall, wind turbine blades are complex components, which require a significant advancement of the scientific and technological state of the art for an efficient and sustainable end-of-life management.