Potentials and limitations of microwave-assisted chemical recycling of fiber-reinforced composites from wind blades

Abstract

Wind power will meet nearly 20% of the global energy demand by 2050, and the forecasted increase in wind power capacity combined with the proximate end-of-life (EoL) of existing infrastructures will pose a significant challenge. While the volumes of wind blade composite waste materials are expected to increase rapidly, there are no circular solutions available in the market to address this issue, and unlock new value chains for wind blade composite recyclates. This perspective aims to discuss the reported strategies for chemical recycling of fiber-reinforced composites, highlighting limitations for upscaling and offering the author's vision on novel technologies to enhance the process feasibility. Current issues associated with the increasing production of dismantled EoL wind turbine blade composite materials (WBCMs) are introduced and the regulatory framework is reviewed, addressing the common challenges associated with structural composite materials and their recyclability. The main novel recycling technologies for WBCMs (mechanical and, especially, chemical recycling) are evaluated based on the literature published between 2019 and 2024, discussing the value of recycled products, new value-added applications, and their circularity and sustainability aspects. The current barriers for industrialization are presented and serve as an introduction to the concept of microwave technology as an alternative and complementary technology for enhancing chemical recycling processes. Lastly, the main findings and limitations of chemical recycling of WBCMs using microwave-assisted technologies are summarized and proposals for future research are presented, highlighting a much-needed development of industrial circular solutions.