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Techno-economic analysis of a megawatt-scale thermoplastic resin wind turbine blade

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  • Murray, Robynne E.
  • Jenne, Scott
  • Snowberg, David
  • Berry, Derek
  • Cousins, Dylan

Abstract

Two-part, in-situ reactive thermoplastic resin systems for composite wind turbine blades have the potential to lower the blade cost by decreasing cycle times, capital costs of both tooling and equipment, and energy consumption during manufacturing, and enabling recycling at the end of the blade life. This paper describes a techno-economic model used to estimate the cost of a thermoplastic wind turbine blade relative to a baseline thermoset epoxy blade. It was shown that a 61.5-m thermoplastic blade costs 4.7% less than an equivalent epoxy blade. Even though the thermoplastic resin is currently more expensive than epoxy, this cost reduction is primarily driven by the decreased capital costs, faster cycle times, and reduced energy requirements and labor costs. Although thermoplastic technology for resin infusion of wind turbine blades is relatively new, these results suggest that it is economically and technically feasible and warrants further research.

Suggested Citation

  • Murray, Robynne E. & Jenne, Scott & Snowberg, David & Berry, Derek & Cousins, Dylan, 2019. "Techno-economic analysis of a megawatt-scale thermoplastic resin wind turbine blade," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 111-119.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:131:y:2019:i:c:p:111-119
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.07.032
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cherrington, R. & Goodship, V. & Meredith, J. & Wood, B.M. & Coles, S.R. & Vuillaume, A. & Feito-Boirac, A. & Spee, F. & Kirwan, K., 2012. "Producer responsibility: Defining the incentive for recycling composite wind turbine blades in Europe," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 13-21.
    2. Schubel, P.J., 2010. "Technical cost modelling for a generic 45-m wind turbine blade producedby vacuum infusion (VI)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 183-189.
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    Cited by:

    1. Francisco Haces-Fernandez, 2020. "GoWInD: Wind Energy Spatiotemporal Assessment and Characterization of End-of-Life Activities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-20, November.
    2. Murray, Robynne E. & Beach, Ryan & Barnes, David & Snowberg, David & Berry, Derek & Rooney, Samantha & Jenks, Mike & Gage, Bill & Boro, Troy & Wallen, Sara & Hughes, Scott, 2021. "Structural validation of a thermoplastic composite wind turbine blade with comparison to a thermoset composite blade," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1100-1107.
    3. Elia, A. & Taylor, M. & Ó Gallachóir, B. & Rogan, F., 2020. "Wind turbine cost reduction: A detailed bottom-up analysis of innovation drivers," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    4. Robynne E. Murray & Andrew Simms & Aidan Bharath & Ryan Beach & Mark Murphy & Levi Kilcher & Andy Scholbrock, 2023. "Toward the Instrumentation and Data Acquisition of a Tidal Turbine in Real Site Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-14, January.

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