The R3wind project promotes the circularity of wind turbines in Ireland

R3wind is the name of a new project involving Irish composites manufacturer ÉireComposites Teo and the Advanced and Sustainable Manufacturing and Materials Engineering (ASMME) department at the University of Galway in Ireland, which specialises in the development of advanced composite and polymer materials, additive manufacturing and 3D printing.

Supported by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the R3WIND project (R3 for Repairable, Recyclable and Reusable) aims to strengthen circularity in the Irish wind energy sector by developing robust wind turbine blades that are optimised for disassembly, repair and recycling.

The use of more easily recyclable resins such as Arkema’s Elium thermoplastic resin or vitrimers, which can soften under the effect of heat, will promote repair methods that extend the life of blades and reduce downtime and maintenance costs. These processes can be applied in both onshore and offshore environments.

During the development of R3wind, demonstrators will be manufactured and full-scale structural tests will be carried out. Prototype blades incorporating the new repair method will also be evaluated in order to reduce the risks associated with the technology.

In addition to reparability, the project will also focus on the development of recycling techniques for out-of-service blades.

“Wind energy is critical in meeting Ireland’s future electricity needs. The R3wind project builds on previous successful collaborations between EireComposites and the University of Galway and looks at new materials and processes to make wind energy more sustainable over the long term. It aims to develop novel solutions that will place Ireland at the cutting edge of the wind energy sector,” says Tomás Flanagan, CEO of EireComposites TEO, in an article posted on his company’s LinkedIn page.

The R3WIND project will be based on a life-cycle analysis of the entire blade production system, from raw material extraction through production, repair and maintenance to end-of-life. “The outputs from this project will pave the way for more sustainable end-of-life strategies for wind turbine blades, as we transition to a Net Zero world,’ concludes William Finnegan, Assistant Professor in the School of Engineering in the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Galway.

Photo: ÉireComposites Teo