The recyclable thermosetting resin blade developed by Mingyang Intelligent with a length of 75.7 meters was successfully put off the production line in Baotou. This blade is the world’s first large-scale blade equipped with recyclable epoxy pultruded plates and recyclable sandwich materials, achieving more than 95% of blade material recycling. As the first complete machine manufacturer in China to develop recyclable blades, Mingyang practices the concept of green development, promotes the sustainable development of the wind power industry, and helps achieve the “dual carbon” goal.

The blade is poured with recycled thermosetting resin, and the main beam is first made of recycled glass fiber pultruded plates. Without changing the original production process, all properties of the material meet DNV certification requirements.

Compared to conventional thermosetting resin molded blades, this type of recyclable blade uses a new chemical degradation recovery method, which can achieve the separation and recovery of resin, fiber, and core materials under mild conditions. The material recovery rate is ≥ 95%, the recovery process is simple, there is no waste solvent, and very low carbon footprint. Moreover, the recovered material can be used in automotive, construction, and other fields, with certain recovery benefits.

In terms of economy, using conventional methods to recover a single retired blade will increase the cost of blade material by 5-10%. Using the technical route of recyclable blades, the recycled fibers, resins, and core materials can be degraded for use. Based on a reduction factor of 55% of the raw material cost, the comprehensive income after removing the recovery cost can reach 5% of the blade material cost. As the proportion of carbon fibers used on 100-meter blades becomes higher and higher, the cost of fibers and resins will exceed 75%, and the comprehensive benefits generated by adopting recyclable technology routes will be even more significant.

According to the “China Post Market Development Report 2022”, the cumulative capacity of wind power units with transformation and decommissioning needs across the country will exceed 60 million kilowatts from 2021-2030. During the “14th Five Year Plan” period, the industry will generate about 15-200 tons of waste materials, and during the “15th Five Year Plan” period, about 801 million tons. Exploring wind power equipment recycling technology and business models is a powerful guarantee for promoting the sustainable development of the wind power industry.

In the future, Mingyang Intelligent will strengthen technical research and cross industry and cross field collaboration, explore the sustainable development boundaries of the wind power industry, promote the implementation of green supply chains, and work with partners to promote 100% recyclability of wind power products, promoting zero carbon sustainable development of the wind power industry.

Source: Mingyang Smart Energy