WEICan Blade Recycling Research Opportunities

Background & Motivation

The Wind Energy Institute of Canada (WEICan) is a nonprofit research institution, located in North Cape, PEI, that has been leading wind energy research in Canada since 1981. WEICan has been operating five 2 MW DeWind D9.2 wind turbines since Spring 2013.

In 2011, the original blades for WEICan’s turbines were rejected due to serious defects. With no other viable options, these blades were cut up and disposed of in a local landfill. Blades from a new manufacturer were then installed on the turbines.

WEICan found a crack in the root of one blade in their T5 turbine in the summer of 2020. This blade was replaced. Then, in September 2024, cracks were found in the roots of four more turbine blades, two on T4 and two on T5. The two cracked blades on T5 and all three blades on T4 were replaced. WEICan now has six blades on the ground below their T4 and T5 turbines, up to five of which can be used for research.

End-of-Life Considerations

Researchers have estimated that there will be 43 million tonnes of cumulative blade waste worldwide by 2050.[1] Presently, most end-of-life wind turbine blades are disposed of in landfills or burned in incineration plants.  However, these methods can have significant negative impacts to the environment and reuse or recycling of wind turbine blades is being explored. End of life options for wind turbine blades are summarized below:

• While landfilling is economically efficient, it has significant environmental repercussions due to blades being non-biodegradable, consumption of valuable land resources, and contributions to greenhouse gas emissions. Landfilling also carries an opportunity cost of unrecovered energy and materials from the blades.
• Incineration provides energy recovery but releases pollutants and still requires landfill disposal of ash.[2]
• Blades can be reused in wind farms or repurposed as bridges, barriers, shade shelters, floating applications, siding, and more.
• Cement Co-Processing uses blades as fuel and raw material, reducing landfill waste and emissions and offsetting the need for the fossil fuels traditionally used in cement production. However, transportation and processing of blades are costly.
• Recycling includes mechanical, thermal, and chemical processes to recover valuable materials, though economic feasibility remains a challenge, mainly due to the complex composite structure of the blades, comprising multiple materials.
• Grinding is an affordable and efficient process where ground blade material can be used in construction applications, including to reinforce plastics, insulate between drywall, strength additive for concrete, and, as a powder, to replace coal ash in materials such as wallboard, cement, and structural in-fills.

Request for Expressions of Interest

WEICan is seeking proposals for innovative research using its damaged blades to advance wind energy sustainability.

WEICan Offers:

• Up to five wind turbine blades
• Research expertise

To Apply

Submit a proposed expression of interest (EOI) by June 30, 2025, outlining:

1. Planned use of the blades and its contribution to wind energy advancements, including a timeline of activities, and any proposed partners
2. Company Information including contact information, name of project contact, and experience/qualifications to carry out the proposed work
3. Budget expectations and funding sources

EOIs will be evaluated based on:

1. Alignment with Project Objectives

The evaluation will assess whether the EOI demonstrates a clear understanding of the project’s goals and requirements, and how the proponent’s expertise and approach can address them. Preference will be given to EOIs that propose novel solutions or improvements over conventional approaches, demonstrate alignment with emerging trends, or introduce new insights, partnerships, or technologies related to blade end-of-life use. Preference will be given to EOIs with Canadian content.

2. Relevance and Quality of Experience

We will assess the proponent’s technical and management expertise, qualifications, and experience in delivering similar work. This includes prior projects with comparable organizations or within similar sectors. Consideration will also be given to the availability of appropriate resources (e.g., personnel, equipment) to successfully complete the work.

3. Financial Plan

The financial capacity of the proponent to manage and sustain the project will be reviewed. If external funding is required to undertake the work, this must be clearly stated in the EOI, along with any associated risks or contingencies.

 

Refer all questions and send all proposal materials to:

• Marianne Rodgers
• 902-882-2746
• marianne.rodgers@weican.ca
• Wind Energy Institute of Canada
• 21741 Route 12, Tignish, PE C0B 2B0

WEICan Qualifications

For more than 40 years, WEICan has been leading wind industry research in Canada with a mission to advance the wind energy industry through research testing, innovation, and collaboration. WEICan has many highly qualified staff supporting their wind energy research. Our expert team includes CEO Scott Harper, who oversaw construction of the wind park and has coordinated dozens of R&D projects with industrial clients; Scientific Director Dr. Marianne Rodgers, who has been leading all research activities at WEICan for the past 11 years and has a more than 20 year history in renewable energy research; Manager of Operations Shawn Shea, who has been carrying out operations and maintenance in the wind industry for more than 20 years; and specialists in data analytics, decision support tools, and renewable energy systems.

[1] P. Liu, C.Y. Barlow, Wind turbine blade waste in 2050, Wast Management, 62, 229-240, 2017.

[2] C. Coombes, Disposing of wind turbine blades, Saltwire, 2022: https://www.weican.ca/disposing-of-wind-turbine-blades/