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Energy, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of Wind Turbine Blade Thermal Recycling Coupled with Organic Rankine Cycle Heat Recovery and Power Generation

Author

Listed:
  • Ramin Moradi

    (Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XJ, UK)

  • Liu Yang

    (Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XJ, UK)

Abstract

Wind turbine blade (WTB) end-of-life waste is projected to increase significantly, yet no sustainable recycling solution with a clear energy, economic, and environmental (3E) assessment exists. This paper presents a validated 3E model of a WTB thermal recycling pilot (1 t/day) to benchmark recycled glass fibre (rGF) against virgin glass fibre (vGF) and identifies the throughput at which rGF becomes competitive. This subsequently leads to a projection of 3E performance at 5000 t/y plant capacity, at which rGF achieves approximately 46% lower specific primary thermal energy, 92% of the CO 2 emissions of vGF, and a selling price of 80% of vGF for a financial break-even. Building on this baseline, a novel combined material, heat, and power system is proposed and simulated, integrating the WTB recycling pilot with a 20 kWₑₗ/130 kWₜₕ organic Rankine cycle to serve residential buildings. Results show that coupling the pilot with 3000 m 2 of apartments yields a near net-zero CO 2 and energy-cost residential complex, with overall CO 2 emissions falling below those of standalone residential buildings combined with vGF production when more than 25 apartments are integrated.

Suggested Citation

  • Ramin Moradi & Liu Yang, 2026. "Energy, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of Wind Turbine Blade Thermal Recycling Coupled with Organic Rankine Cycle Heat Recovery and Power Generation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-28, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:18:y:2026:i:12:p:5859-:d:1962361
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