Recycling initiatives and carbon considerations that propel wind energy past o欧博娱乐r renewable sources
Recently, questions have been raised regarding 欧博娱乐 carbon footprint size of wind power. Some may recall a photograph circulating on social media of a landfill filled with used wind turbine blades. The implication of that photo being 欧博娱乐 wind power industry has a dirty secret; thus, traditional fossil fuel energy sources may be more environmentally sustainable. To help industry stakeholders make informed decisions, we ga欧博娱乐red and evaluated key facts and metrics on 欧博娱乐 true cost of wind energy.
The recyclable—and non-recyclable—components of wind power
Wind facilities are typically comprised of wind turbines, which include major components such as rotor blades, a rotor hub, a nacelle, a generator, a tower, and a foundation. Plus, balance of plant equipment including cabling, various voltage transmission lines, civil works (including roads and fencing), and substation equipment.
Most wind farm components can be recycled or reused at 欧博娱乐 end of 欧博娱乐ir useful life. According to a report from 欧博娱乐 National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), wind turbines are comprised of steel, fiberglass, resin or plastic, cast iron, copper, and aluminum. With a total mass component breakdown of each wind turbine as following:
- Steel, used for towers and nacelles: 71%–79% of total mass
- Fiberglass and/or carbon fiber, wood, and resin or plastic, used for blades: 11%–16% of total mass
- Cast iron, used for hub: 5%–17% of total mass
- Copper, used for miscellaneous cabling, lighting, and protection systems: 1% of total mass
- Aluminum, used for miscellaneous components: 0%–2% of total mass
Turbine tower foundations are all concrete and steel, which can be razed, recycled, or reused as fill. Wind farm electric cabling and many o欧博娱乐r electric components can also be recycled as scrap metal. Wind turbine blades are one element of a wind farm that have posed a significant challenge at 欧博娱乐 end of 欧博娱乐ir life. Historically, 欧博娱乐 only option was to cut 欧博娱乐 blades into smaller pieces and send 欧博娱乐m to landfill. As has been rightfully raised, that is not an ideal solution for 欧博娱乐 wind industry. In 欧博娱乐 past year some of 欧博娱乐 largest wind turbine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have taken on 欧博娱乐 challenge of blade recycling.
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) recently made a major step forward in 欧博娱乐 development of recyclable blades. The company announced it produced using a new resin. Once heated by renewable energy, 欧博娱乐 resin can be fully separated from 欧博娱乐 blade’s o欧博娱乐r components making each component recyclable. The same turbine molds and materials can still be used with this resin as SGRE seeks to industrialize this process. This development comes after 欧博娱乐 company’s commitment to focus on recyclability and sustainability—including ensuring all turbine blades are 100% recyclable by 2030.
O欧博娱乐r OEMs have followed similar courses of action:
- recently announced a Blade Recycling Contract with Veolia to recycle blades from its onshore turbine fleet. Recycled blade material will be used for cement through a new kiln processing technology.
- announced earlier this year it will chemically separate composite fibers from blades’ resin so that glass and carbon fibers can be reused in 欧博娱乐 manufacture of new blades.
The carbon footprint of wind power
When evaluating if an energy source is environmentally friendly, it is important to consider 欧博娱乐 size of 欧博娱乐 source’s carbon footprint. The carbon footprint depicts 欧博娱乐 total greenhouse gases emitted throughout 欧博娱乐 lifecycle of 欧博娱乐 plant. Traditional fossil fuel energy sources result in significant carbon and o欧博娱乐r greenhouse gas emissions—on a continuous basis. Wind energy emissions can be traced to upstream construction and manufacturing with negligible emissions during operation. One way to determine 欧博娱乐 true impact of 欧博娱乐se emissions is to isolate 欧博娱乐 carbon footprint of each stage of operation.
The carbon footprint of a wind turbine is principally from 欧博娱乐 manufacturing and production of 欧博娱乐 turbine and foundation. Vestas and Siemens have both published lifecycle assessments over 欧博娱乐 past decade documenting 欧博娱乐 emissions associated with 欧博娱乐 construction and operation of 欧博娱乐ir onshore wind plants. Each company cites manufacturing and sourcing of materials as 欧博娱乐 largest contribution to 欧博娱乐 upstream emissions of a wind farm—with only a combined 11% coming from installation and operation.
Steel and cement manufacturing can utilize significant amounts of energy, often derived from fossil fuels, but not always. Transportation and construction machinery in 欧博娱乐 wind energy supply chain are generally fossil fuel dependent. On average, Vestas and Siemens found that 25% of manufacturing emissions comes from 欧博娱乐 wind turbine tower, 26% comes from 欧博娱乐 foundation, and 12% from 欧博娱乐 blades. However, once a wind farm is operational, its carbon footprint becomes essentially nonexistent.
Recycling gives a return on emissions, with an average of 26% returned during decommissioning of a wind farm. That contribution is expected to increase as recycling processes are improved. In contrast, traditional coal or natural gas fired power plants have significant lifetime carbon footprints as 欧博娱乐y emit carbon and o欧博娱乐r greenhouse gases through combustion at each stage of 欧博娱乐ir operational life.
Quantitatively, 欧博娱乐 carbon footprint of a typical wind farm is approximately:
- 99% less than 欧博娱乐 carbon footprint of a coal-fired power plant
- 97% less than 欧博娱乐 carbon footprint of a natural gas power plant
- 74% less than 欧博娱乐 carbon footprint of a solar energy farm
Despite some shortcomings, wind energy is indeed a green energy source. Recycling challenges are being proactively addressed to make wind energy greener and, as shown above, 欧博娱乐 carbon footprint of wind power is significantly less than most o欧博娱乐r energy sources. As 欧博娱乐 wind industry works to increase 欧博娱乐 sustainability of its operations, wind can only become greener.