Evaluating the feasibility of shredded wind turbine blades for sustainable building components

Disposing of end-of-life wind turbine blades has become a pressing environmental concern due to the increasing repowering of wind turbines, resulting in significant waste. This study explores the potential of reusing shredded composite (SC) derived from recycling these blades for new building components. The SC underwent a thorough characterisation, including evaluating essential performance requirements as a building insulation material, such as thermal conductivity, acoustic absorption, and flammability classification, following established procedures and standard specifications to ensure reliable and standardised results. The SC outperforms traditional materials regarding sound absorption properties, with peak Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) values reaching 0.65. Additionally, it demonstrates effective sound transmission loss, with a peak value of 35.7 dB at 1000 Hz. However, the SC has limitations regarding flammability classification due to the presence of resin. The study examines the thermal conductivity of SC in maximum fibre length (MFL) of 2 mm and 10 mm, with the latter showing lower conductivity. These findings highlight the value of reusing and repurposing materials for creating sustainable building components and practices, supporting circular economy principles. They also underscore the importance of addressing the large-scale disposal of waste materials through their effective reuse in the construction industry.