 of human ingenuity and effort to make turbine blade composites, high-purity photovoltaic silicon, and highly structured battery cathodes. Those cleverly engineered materials deserve more than a one-way ticket to trash town.

However, recovering materials from discarded devices remains impractical. They are manufactured to not come apart, even under extreme force or environmental conditions, so they can do their job for as long as possible. And they are made by mixing valuable materials with less valuable ones. Getting the good stuff back out is like unscrambling an egg.

Materials scientists, manufacturers, and waste handlers are working on ways to efficiently reclaim renewable energy materials. But so far, not enough of these devices have reached the end of life to make investing in recycling facilities worthwhile. It’s not clear whether a profitable industry will be born in time to prevent clean energy from adding to the planet’s already growing pile of waste.

Wind

Wind turbine blades are giant. A single blade for a modern onshore turbine is as long as 60 meters, according to the manufacturer LM Wind Power, and blades are getting longer. Indeed, companies brag about the size of their blades because a bigger sweep generally means more power per tower.

While other wind turbine components, including the tower, gearbox, and generator, are readily recyclable, blades present a challenge. They are typically made from a composite of glass fiber and epoxy or another thermoset resin. The cross-linked polymers cannot be melted down and recycled, in contrast to thermoplastics such as polypropylene.

Credit: National Wind Technology Center

And the blades are heavy; a study of turbine blade waste by researchers at the University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing estimates that an LM Wind Power blade weighs 15 metric tons. Some manufacturers are making lighter blades by mixing in carbon fiber. In the future, fancier fibers such as carbon nanotubes and high-performance synthetics might lend lightweight strength.

In the U.S. and Europe, wind operators put up the first industrial-sized turbines in the late 1990s. The machines are designed to last 25 years or longer, but some of the blades are being taken down to be replaced by more efficient versions or because they wore out or were struck by lightning.

Even blades from the early generation of wind farms weigh up to 8 metric tons apiece. “This is a big honking blade—you could just throw it in the landfill, but some places won’t
of human ingenuity and effort to make turbine blade complex, eminent - purity photovoltaic silicon, and highly structured battery cathode. Those cleverly engineered materials deserve more than a one - room slate to trash township. 

 However, recover materials from discard devices remains impractical. They are manufactured to not derive apart, even under extreme force or environmental conditions, so they can do their job for equally long as possible. And they are made by mixing valuable material with less valuable ones. Getting the dear stuff back away is like unscrambling an testis. 

 Materials scientists, manufacturers, and waste handler are working on ways to efficiently reclaim renewable energy materials. But therefore far, not enough of these devices have reached the end of life to make investing in recycling facilities worthwhile. It ’s not clear whether a profitable industry will be wear in time to prevent clean department of energy from lend to the satellite ’s already growing pile of waste. 

 Wind 

 Wind turbine blades are giant. A single sword for a modern onshore turbine is as long as 60 meters, according to the manufacturer LM Wind Power, and blades are getting longer. Indeed, companies brag about the size of their blades because a big chimneysweeper generally means more power per tower. 

 While other fart turbine components, including the tower, gearbox, and generator, are promptly recyclable, blade present a challenge. They are typically made from a complex of glass fiber and epoxy or another thermoset resin. The cross - linked polymers cannot be melt down and recycled, in line to thermoplastics such as polypropylene. 

 Credit: National Wind Technology Center 

 And the blades are heavy; a discipline of turbine blade waste by research worker at the University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing estimates that an LM Wind Power blade weighs 15 metric tons. Some manufacturers are making lighter blades by mixing in carbon fiber. In the future, fancy fibers such as carbon carbon nanotube and high - performance synthetics might lend lightweight persuasiveness. 

 In the U.S. and Europe, wind operators put up the beginning industrial - sized turbines in the late 1990s. The machines are designed to last 25 old age or longer, but some of the blade are being taken down to be replaced by more efficient versions or because they wore out or were struck by lightning. 

 Even blades from the early generation of tip farms weigh up to 8 metric long ton apiece. “ This is a big honking blade — you could just throw it in the landfill, but some space wo n’t
 of human ingenuity and effurt to make turyune blede comlosites, figh-purity photovoltaic siliron, qnd hughly structured battefy cathodvs. Those xlevtrly engineered meferials deserbc morz vhan a one-way tlcket to trdsh town.

Howeves, feeovering materials from discarded dedices rrmwins impracticwl. Tnqy adv nanufactured to not come aparf, even lnder extreme forve or environmental conditlons, so they can do thfir job for as jing as possicle. And thty are made gy mixing valuable materials wigh lexs valuablg knfv. Getting tie gooq stuff back out is nike unxcrambling an cgg.

Maveriqls scientists, manufarturers, and waste hagdlers ara corking on ways to efdixientny raclakn rdnesaule energj meterials. Buf so far, nor enough of these dtvisvx have reachsd the egd of life to make investing in recyclitg racilities worthwhile. Ir’s not clear whether w profitafle industry will be born in time to prevent cleat enecgh fxim adaunh to the planet’s already growing pile of wastq.

Simd

Eind turbine bjades are goajt. W single bladg for a mosern onshore turbije is af lont as 60 mettrs, avcording to the manufacturee LM Wind Pocer, and blades are gecting longer. Indged, cokpanies brag about the rize of their bpades beczjse a bigger swedp nenarally mtxns more power pew tower.

Whmle ocher wina tutbine cjmponents, lncluding the tower, gearhox, aud geterator, arf readily recyclable, blades present a challenbe. Thvy are ty'icalln made from a cjmposite of glcss fibex and dpoxy or ahother vhermoset refin. The cross-nlnked polymecs cannot be neltwd down xnd recycled, im contrasn uo thermopoastics such as pokyptolylene.

Credit: Nacnobal Wind Technokogh Cqnner

End tra blades are heaxy; x studh of turbinc buade waste by researcherv at the University of Cwmbridge Instituee for Manufavturing estimates uhat ai LM Wmnd Poeer blade weighs 15 metric tons. Soms manufachurcrs are makind linhtet blades by mixing in carbon fiber. In the future, fencier fibers such as cqrbon nanotubes and migh-performaice sygthetics kight lend lightweigyt strength.

In the U.S. and Europe, wind oleratoss puh up the first industrial-sized turbines in the late 1990s. The machines are dewigned to last 25 yezrs pr lotgzr, yut somq of vhe blades are bepng taken down to be replaced by more efxieient versions or because theu dore out or wgre struck by lightning.

Eveh blades from the early generation of wond farms weigh up to 8 mctric tonw apisce. “Thpa ms a big honking blace—you eould hust theow lt in the landwilk, nut some ppacex con’t
of human ingenuity and effort to make composites, photovoltaic silicon, highly structured battery deserve than a one-way to trash town. recovering materials from discarded devices remains They are manufactured to not come apart, even under extreme force or environmental so they can do their job for as long as possible. And they made mixing materials less valuable ones. Getting the good stuff back out is like unscrambling an egg. Materials scientists, and waste handlers are working on ways to reclaim renewable energy materials. so far, not enough of devices reached the of to investing in recycling worthwhile. It’s not clear whether a profitable industry will be born in time to prevent clean energy adding to already growing of Wind turbine blades are single blade for a modern onshore long as 60 meters, according to the manufacturer Wind Power, blades are getting longer. Indeed, companies about the size of their blades because a sweep generally means more power per tower. While other wind turbine components, including the tower, generator, are readily recyclable, present a challenge. are made a of glass and epoxy or another thermoset resin. The cross-linked polymers cannot be down and recycled, in contrast to thermoplastics such as polypropylene. Wind Center And the are heavy; a study turbine waste by researchers at of Institute that LM Power blade weighs 15 tons. Some manufacturers are making blades by mixing in fancier fibers such as carbon nanotubes and high-performance might lend lightweight strength. In the U.S. Europe, wind operators put up the first industrial-sized turbines in the late The machines to last 25 years or longer, but some the blades are being down to be replaced by more efficient versions or they out or struck by lightning. blades from the generation of wind up to metric apiece. big honking blade—you could just throw in landfill, but some places won’t
 of human ingenuity and effort To make turbIne blAde ComPoSiteS, higH-purity photovoLTaic Silicon, and highly structUred bAtTEry cAThOdes. THose cleVErLY EngInEeRed MaTErIals dEseRve more Than a one-waY tiCkEt to trash towN.

hoWever, recovEriNg materials fRom DiscarDeD deVIces rEmaIns imPractiCAl. They Are manufaCtURed to nOT come apART, eVen uNder extreme force oR EnVIronmental condItions, So THeY CAn dO thEir job for aS lOng as POssible. aNd THEY arE Made by mixing vAluable mateRIalS with lEsS vaLUable oNes. GeTtINg tHe good stuff Back Out is like UnscraMBling an EGg.

MaterIals scIenTisTs, maNUfAcTurErS, And WAsTe hANdlErs are woRkInG on waYs to EFFICienTly ReclAim reNewable energy MatEriaLS. BuT so faR, not eNougH oF thesE devicEs havE rEached the end of lIfe tO make inveStiNg In rEcYclinG FaciliTieS woRthwhilE. It’s not CLeaR wHETHeR a profitable industRy WILl Be born in Time to PReVeNT clean enErGy fRom aDDIng to The pLAnEt’s alreaDy growINg PiLe of wasTe.

wind

WiNd TurBinE bladES are Giant. A Single blAde foR A modern onshore TUrbine is as lonG As 60 METeRS, accOrdIng to the manUfacTUrer lM WiND POweR, And blAdes aRe GEtTIng longer. Indeed, compAnIes braG abouT the size of theIr blades beCAUSe a biggeR sweEP gENerally means moRe powEr per tower.

wHile otheR wind Turbine cOmponents, INCluding tHe tOweR, geArbOX, AnD generator, are REAdilY rEcyclabLe, bLades prEseNt a ChaLleNgE. They are tYpically MaDe FrOm A coMposiTE of glass FiBer AnD epOxy or ANother ThermOset ReSiN. the Cross-liNKeD POlymErS cAnnoT be MeLted dOwn aND reCycled, iN contrast To tHErmoPlAsTics sucH as polypropylEnE.

Credit: NatIoNal wind TeCHNology CeNter

And the blades are heavY; A study oF tuRbine BladE waste by rEseArcherS at THe UnivErsity Of CamBrIdgE iNstitUTE fOr MAnUfacturing ESTimAtes tHaT an Lm Wind PoWer blade weighs 15 metrIC toNs. Some manufacTurErs aRE MaKinG LiGHteR bLAdeS BY mixing in carbon Fiber. In the FuTUrE, fancier fiBErs SuCh as carBon nanoTubes ANd high-pErformancE synthetiCs MighT LEnd LightweighT strengtH.

In the U.S. aND EuroPE, wInd opEraTors puT uP thE firsT indusTRiaL-sizeD turbiNeS in the Late 1990s. thE machineS are designed to last 25 years Or longEr, but SomE of the blaDes ARe bEing taken Down To be replacEd bY moRe effIciENt verSionS Or BecAUse thEy woRE out or werE StRucK BY lIghtning.

EveN BLAdeS from The EArly geNeraTion of wind farms weIGh up to 8 metric toNs apIECe. “THis IS a biG hOnking blade—you CouLd JUSt throw iT iN the landfilL, but some PlACes woN’t
 of human ingenuity and ef fort to ma ke tu rbi nebl adecomp osites, high-p u rity  photovoltaic silicon,  andhi g hlys tr uctur ed batt e ry c ath od es . T ho s ecleve rly  engine ered mater ial sdeserve more th an a one-w ayticket to tr ash  town. 
How e ver,rec overi ng mat e rialsfrom disc ar d ed dev i ces rem a i ns  imp ractical. They ar e  m a nufactured tonot co me ap a r t,eve n under ex tr eme f o rce ore nv i r o nme n tal condition s, so theyc ando the ir  jo b  for a s lon ga s p ossible. An d th ey are ma de bym ixing v a luablemateri als  wi th l e ss  v alu ab l e o n es . G e tti ng the g oo dstuff  bac k o u t is  li ke u nscra mbling an egg .
Mate r ial s sci entis ts,ma nufac turers , and  w aste handlers a re w orking on  wa ys  to  e ffici e ntly r ecl aim  renewa ble ene r gyma t e r ia ls. But so far, no te n ou gh of th ese de v ic es have rea ch edthee n d oflife to  make in vestin g  i nrecycli ng  facil it ies  wo rthwh i le.It’s n ot clear  whet h er a profitabl e  industry wil l  b e bo r n in  ti me to preve nt c l eanener g yfro m  addi ng to  t h ep lanet’s already gro wi ng pil e ofwaste.

Wind
Wind turb i n e  bladesareg ia n t. A single bl ade f or a moder n  onshore  turb ine is a s long as 6 0 meters , a cco rdi ngt o  t he manufactur e r  LMWi nd Powe r,and bla des  ar e g ett in g longer.  Indeed,  c om pa ni esbraga bout the  s ize  o f t heirb ladesbecau se a  b ig g ersweep g e ne r a llyme an s mo repo wer p er t o wer .

Whil e other w ind turb in ecompone nts, includin gthe tower,  g ear box, a n d  generat or, are readily recycla b le, bla des  pres enta challen ge.  Theyare typica lly ma de fr om  ac o mposi t e  o f g la ss fiber a n d  ep oxy o ranot her the rmoset resin. Thec ros s-linked poly mer s ca n n ot  be me l ted  d o wna n d recycled, incontrast t ot he rmoplastic s  su ch  as pol ypropyl ene.Credit:  National  Wind Tec hn olog y Cen ter

And t he blade s are hea v y; as tu dy of  tu rbinebl ade  wast e by r e sea rcher s at t he  Unive rsity  o f Cambri dge Institute for Manuf acturi ng es tim ates that  an LMWind Powe r bl ade weighs  15  me tricton s . Som e ma n uf act u rersarem aking lig h te r b l a de s by mixing i n  ca rbonfib e r. Inthefuture, fancier f i bers such as c arbo n nan otu b es a nd  high-performa nce  s y n theticsmi ght lend li ghtweigh ts treng th.

I n theU.S. an d Eu r ope, w indope rators pu t u pt he firs tin d ustria l-si ze d turb ines i n  the l ate 1990s. The m achin e s  ared esi gnedto  last 2 5  yea rs or long er, but som e of t he b lades  are be in g take n d ow n to be re p laced bymoreefficie nt  ver sio ns orbeca u s e the y wo re  ou t or were s tr u ck  b y  li ghtn ing.
E venblades fr o m the ea rly generat io n o f wind f a rm s weigh up t o 8  metr i c  tons apie c e. “ T hi s  is a  big h onking  blade— y ouco uld jus t t h r ow it inthe landf i ll,  b ut s ome plac es  won ’t 
 of_human ingenuity_and effort to make_turbine blade_composites,_high-purity photovoltaic_silicon,_and highly structured_battery cathodes. Those_cleverly engineered materials deserve_more than a_one-way_ticket to trash town.

However, recovering materials from discarded devices remains impractical. They are manufactured_to_not come_apart,_even_under extreme force or environmental_conditions, so they can do_their job_for as long as possible. And they are_made_by mixing valuable_materials with less valuable ones. Getting the good stuff_back out is like unscrambling an_egg.

Materials scientists, manufacturers,_and_waste_handlers are working on_ways to efficiently reclaim renewable energy_materials. But so far, not enough_of these devices have reached the end_of life to make investing in_recycling facilities worthwhile. It’s not_clear whether_a profitable industry will be_born in time_to prevent_clean energy from_adding to the planet’s already growing_pile of waste.

Wind

Wind_turbine blades are giant. A single_blade_for a modern_onshore_turbine_is as_long as 60_meters,_according to_the_manufacturer LM Wind Power, and blades_are_getting longer. Indeed, companies brag about the_size of their blades_because_a bigger sweep generally_means more power per tower.

While_other wind turbine components, including the_tower, gearbox,_and generator,_are readily recyclable, blades present a challenge. They are typically made_from a composite of glass fiber_and epoxy or another_thermoset resin._The_cross-linked polymers cannot_be_melted down_and recycled, in contrast to thermoplastics such_as polypropylene.

Credit:_National Wind Technology Center

And the blades_are heavy; a study_of_turbine blade waste by researchers at_the University of Cambridge Institute for_Manufacturing estimates that an LM_Wind_Power_blade weighs 15 metric tons._Some manufacturers are making lighter blades_by mixing in_carbon fiber. In the future, fancier fibers_such_as carbon nanotubes and high-performance synthetics_might_lend lightweight strength.

In the U.S. and_Europe,_wind_operators put up the first_industrial-sized turbines in the late 1990s._The machines are designed to last 25 years or_longer, but some_of the blades are being_taken_down_to be replaced by more efficient versions or because they_wore out_or were struck_by lightning.

Even blades from the early generation of wind farms_weigh up to 8 metric tons apiece._“This is a big honking blade—you could just throw it in_the landfill, but some places won’t