Woollard & Henry Ltd.’s affiliate company, WH Lipex, is making major strides in tackling the issue of wind turbine blade disposal through a pioneering recycling method developed in partnership with the SUSPENS project.
Rather than relying on traditional thermal processes like pyrolysis, WH Lipex has introduced a non-thermal technique that preserves the strength and integrity of glass fibres.
Early lab results show that these recycled fibres match the tensile strength of new ones - an encouraging development for sustainability in the wind energy sector.
The innovative process involves extracting, cleaning, and remelting glass from decommissioned blades, followed by the formation of new fibres.
A key breakthrough is the use of a non-thermal cleaning method that applies pulse and frequency technology, enabling the company to retain fibre quality during recycling.
WH Lipex is currently doing pilot-scale testing with nearly 100 kg of recycled fibres ready to be converted to fabrics.
Looking forward, WH Lipex aims to refine the process, address energy efficiency, and navigate challenges such as the variability of glass compositions across blades.
With a flexible pilot plant system already designed, the company is well-positioned to scale its solution. If successful, this initiative could help reduce landfill waste, support a circular economy, and set a new standard for sustainable materials in renewable energy.