Wind Energy
Wind Energy
Otherwise known as Offshore Wind Installations, wind power is a fantastic renewable energy source to help tackle the energy crisis. Dedicated to finding greener solutions and reduce carbon emissions, development of wind energy is one of our key focuses. Within the energy space, offshore capacity grew by more than 100% between 2016 and 2022.
In the UK, it’s been reported that there was a massive increase in wind power electricity between 2009 and 2020, a whopping 715%! It’s not hard to see why either, with great benefits including zero water usage in the running of turbines (at odds with every other renewable resource) and onshore and offshore capacity.
Created to cut through the wind and provide a greener energy solution, wind blades are put through high amounts of stress. Designed for collecting maximum kinetic energy, the blades are inevitably damaged by the same strong winds they handle throughout their lifespan. Even the sea air can cause problems for offshore wind farms with issues caused by salinity and fatiguing. The ramifications of this wind-shearing on the metal and fibreglass composite materials are that, eventually, the blades need to be replaced.
Once replaced, one question still remains; what happens to the old wind blades?
With an increase in offshore capacity to continue with the global goal for net zero, decommissioning of ageing fleets will soon be a common requirement to match with the newer, greener technologies. In the process, wind blades will need to be replaced in a way that continues the lifespan of their materials. Using innovative recycling methods, we turn your old, broken, and even legacy blades into reusable resources so you can continue with a zero emissions promise.
Valhalla Tech Solutions and the University of Essex are looking at providing an innovative solution to recycle wind blades. PropBlade Loc. (patent pending) can be re-used in the P&A market.