That is why the NREL team created the PECAN resin to exhibit the same-or, No matter how sustainable a wind turbine blade is, the last thing it should be isįlimsy. “It creates the potential to save significant energyĪnd money while also decarbonizing the first life of each turbine.” The NREL team showed that the PECAN resin produces 40% less greenhouse gas emissionsĪnd requires 30% less energy to make when compared to the epoxy primarily used in The process to manufacture a blade with PECAN resin is greener, too. The PECAN resin can be made entirely from biobased materials, like sorbitol, a commonīut PECAN-based wind turbine blades benefit from more than just green building blocks. Sustainable solution for the wind turbine industry, like this 9-meter prototype blade. But the NREL team is proving they are up for the challengeĪ recyclable, plant-based resin developed by NREL researchers could help create a However, as it turns out, developing resins that are durable and easily recycled canīe a tough nut to crack. To decarbonize the energy sector and eliminate waste, the wind energy industry needs To recycle cost effectively and without significantly degrading the material. (like petroleum) and lots of energy to make. Traditionally, most resins used in wind turbine blades require nonrenewable resources In fact, it is estimated that more than 2 million tons of wind turbine blade materials will be deployed in the United States by 2050. Number is expected to grow significantly as the nation accelerates toward a cleanĮnergy future. More than 70,000 wind turbines are currently operating in the United States, and that The answer lies in sustainability and recyclability. Now, you may be thinking, “What’s the point of using plant waste to make a wind turbine In NREL’s Composites Manufacturing Education and Technology Facility. The researchers designed the PECAN resin using biobased chemicals that canĪfter optimizing it in the lab, the NREL team used their new PECAN resin to glue togetherĪ 9-meter wind turbine blade made with fiberglass composites and a balsawood core Instead, the name isĪn acronym representing the material’s chemical structure (PolyEster Covalently Adaptable Nicknamed PECAN, the new resin boasts a novel composition, but it is neither flavored nor made with its nutty namesake. (the size of a volleyball net)-marking a major milestone toward the material’s readiness Successfully used their new resin to construct a 9-meter prototype wind turbine blade AndĪfter several rounds of experimenting, fine tuning, and slowly scaling up, the team They began by formulating their resin in thimble-sized vials at the lab bench. The central glue holding a wind turbine blade together. About three years ago, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers Robynne Murray, Nicholas Rorrer, and their team set out on a mission to make an easily recycled resin to serve as
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