IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i17p7858-d1474436.html

A Holistic and Circular Approach for Managing End-of-Service Wind Turbine Blades

Author

Listed:
  • Alann André

    (RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, 431 53 Mölndal, Sweden)

  • Thomas Bru

    (RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, 431 53 Mölndal, Sweden)

  • Abdul Ghafoor Abbasi

    (RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, 431 53 Mölndal, Sweden)

  • Sugandh Sinha

    (RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, 431 53 Mölndal, Sweden)

  • Stephanie Nunes

    (RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, 431 53 Mölndal, Sweden)

  • Magdalena Juntikka

    (RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, 431 53 Mölndal, Sweden)

  • Karolina Kazmierczak

    (Chalmers Industriteknik, 412 58 Göteborg, Sweden)

  • Nils Ólafur Egilsson

    (Chalmers Industriteknik, 412 58 Göteborg, Sweden)

  • Gustav Frid

    (Vattenfall Business Area Wind, 169 92 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Marcin Sobczyk

    (ANMET, Street Przemyslowa 12, 67-300 Wiechlice, Poland)

  • Reza Haghani

    (HiFIT High Frequency Impact Treatment USA, Fairfax, VA 22032, USA)

Abstract

This paper aims to define the challenges and requirements necessary for the holistic management of wind turbine blades at the end of their service (EoS). Conducted within the Swedish research project Circublade, this study focuses on Sweden, although many challenges and findings are applicable to other countries. Various alternatives for managing EoS wind turbine blades exist at different levels of market maturity, but this paper specifically focuses on repurposing the blades into new products. The development of three concept designs—short-span pedestrian bridges, façade elements for building applications, and noise barriers for roads and railways—has been explored, along with aspects related to material sourcing, logistics, and implementation. For material sourcing, a digital platform containing blade data and tools to facilitate repurposing has been developed. An environmental evaluation of the different concepts highlights the significant impact of transportation on the overall environmental footprint, underscoring the necessity of a holistic approach to managing EoS blades.

Suggested Citation

  • Alann André & Thomas Bru & Abdul Ghafoor Abbasi & Sugandh Sinha & Stephanie Nunes & Magdalena Juntikka & Karolina Kazmierczak & Nils Ólafur Egilsson & Gustav Frid & Marcin Sobczyk & Reza Haghani, 2024. "A Holistic and Circular Approach for Managing End-of-Service Wind Turbine Blades," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:17:p:7858-:d:1474436
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/17/7858/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/17/7858/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Snyder, Hannah, 2019. "Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 333-339.
    2. Kieran Ruane & Marios Soutsos & An Huynh & Zoe Zhang & Angela Nagle & Kenny McDonald & T Russell Gentry & Paul Leahy & Lawrence C. Bank, 2023. "Construction and Cost Analysis of BladeBridges Made from Decommissioned FRP Wind Turbine Blades," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Philipp Johst & Moritz Bühl & Alann André & Robert Kupfer & Richard Protz & Niels Modler & Robert Böhm, 2025. "Characterisation of End-of-Life Wind Turbine Blade Components for Structural Repurposing: Experimental and Analytic Prediction Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-24, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Amr S. Abdallah & Hala Amin & Mohammed Abdelghany & Ahmed A. Elamer, 2025. "Antecedents and consequences of intellectual capital: a systematic review, integrated framework, and agenda for future research," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 75(4), pages 3067-3118, December.
    2. Maryono, Maryono & Killoes, Aditya Marendra & Adhikari, Rajendra & Abdul Aziz, Ammar, 2024. "Agriculture development through multi-stakeholder partnerships in developing countries: A systematic literature review," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    3. Ali Zackery & Joseph Amankwah-Amoah & Zahra Heidari Darani & Shiva Ghasemi, 2022. "COVID-19 Research in Business and Management: A Review and Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-32, August.
    4. Rao, Amar & Sharma, Gagan Deep & Tiwari, Aviral Kumar & Hossain, Mohammad Razib & Dev, Dhairya, 2025. "Crude oil Price forecasting: Leveraging machine learning for global economic stability," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    5. Eusebius Pantja Pramudya & Lukas Rumboko Wibowo & Fitri Nurfatriani & Iman Kasiman Nawireja & Dewi Ratna Kurniasari & Sakti Hutabarat & Yohanes Berenika Kadarusman & Ananda Oemi Iswardhani & Rukaiyah , 2022. "Incentives for Palm Oil Smallholders in Mandatory Certification in Indonesia," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-28, April.
    6. Peter Schnell & Phillip Haag & Hans Christian Jünger, 2022. "Implementation of Digital Technologies in Construction Companies: Establishing a Holistic Process which Addresses Current Barriers," Businesses, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-18, December.
    7. Ulises Martín Casado & Facundo Ignacio Altuna & Luis Alejandro Miccio, 2025. "A Review on the Role of Crosslinked Polymers in Renewable Energy: Complex Network Analysis of Innovations in Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-31, May.
    8. Chen, Yanyan & Mandler, Timo & Meyer-Waarden, Lars, 2021. "Three decades of research on loyalty programs: A literature review and future research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 179-197.
    9. Fabio Magnacca & Riccardo Giannetti, 2024. "Management accounting and new product development: a systematic literature review and future research directions," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 28(2), pages 651-685, June.
    10. Ruchi Arora & Meera Kapoor & Nidhi Singh & Muhammad Zafar Yaqub, 2025. "Green cryptocurrency and business strategies: Framework and insights from a stewardship literature review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1), pages 804-829, January.
    11. Hongxia Jin & Lu Lu & Haojun Fan, 2022. "Global Trends and Research Hotspots in Long COVID: A Bibliometric Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-14, March.
    12. Prince Donkor Ameyaw & Walter Timo de Vries, 2020. "Transparency of Land Administration and the Role of Blockchain Technology, a Four-Dimensional Framework Analysis from the Ghanaian Land Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-25, December.
    13. Hanna Lehtimäki & Kristina Leppälä & Nuppu Mielonen & Ville‐Veikko Piispanen & Kaisa Henttonen & Subhanjan Sengupta & Ida Parkkinen & Olena Liakh, 2026. "Sustainable Innovation Framework: A Review of Organization, Strategic Management, and Entrepreneurship Literature," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(S1), pages 34-64, January.
    14. Vicente Guerola-Navarro & Hermenegildo Gil-Gomez & Raul Oltra-Badenes & Pedro Soto-Acosta, 2024. "Customer relationship management and its impact on entrepreneurial marketing: a literature review," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 507-547, June.
    15. Aleksandra Kuzior & Mariya Sira, 2025. "Sustainable Digital Economy Transformation Through Intelligent Automation: A Multi-Environmental Framework for Strategic Decision-Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-27, August.
    16. Amal Almansour & Reem Alotaibi & Hajar Alharbi, 2022. "Text-rating review discrepancy (TRRD): an integrative review and implications for research," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-15, December.
    17. Pomerlyan, Evgeniya & Belitski, Maksim, 2023. "Integration - Growth relationship: A literature review and future research agenda using a TCCM approach," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 41(6), pages 1106-1118.
    18. Sevasti Lamprou & Paraskevi (Evi) Dekoulou & George Kalliris, 2025. "The Critical Impact and Socio-Ethical Implications of AI on Content Generation Practices in Media Organizations," Societies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-14, August.
    19. Tim Rademaker & Ingo Klingenberg & Stefan Süß, 2025. "Leadership and technostress: a systematic literature review," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 75(1), pages 429-494, February.
    20. Švarc, Jadranka & Dabić, Marina, 2021. "Transformative innovation policy or how to escape peripheral policy paradox in European research peripheral countries," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:17:p:7858-:d:1474436. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.