Recently, the European project ECORES WIND was presented and launched, which is led by GAIKER and whose main objective is revolutionize the wind sector thanks to the innovative development of new sustainable resin systems that are designed for wind turbine structures.
On September 18 and 19, the launch meeting of ECORES WIND, an ambitious European project aimed at contributing to the development of sustainable practices and environmentally friendly in the wind energy sectorproviding a viable alternative to conventional resin systems.
The initiative is led by GAIKER, member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance, BRTA, a private non-profit organization with 39 years of experience dedicated to conduct research and offer innovative technological solutions to companies from different sectors.
In addition to leading the project, GAIKER will work on the characterization of new materials developed for wind turbinesbut also in production processes. The Center will also be responsible for scaling up the recycling processes of the new resins produced in the process.
ECORES WIND: sustainable resins for wind turbines
ECORES WIND, funded by the European Union within the Horizon Europe research and innovation framework programme, aims to transform the world’s economy wind energy through the development of new circular resin systems.
With a duration of 42 months, this study will focus on improvement the circularity of wind turbine componentsespecially the blades, to minimize the ecological footprint during their life cycle.
It’s about addressing the environmental challenges faced by conventional resin systems around the world wind turbines in a rapidly evolving wind industry. To this end, alternatives will be developed that promote recyclability, extend service life and improve efficient disassembly processes. ECORES WIND objectives integrate innovative circular resins together with advanced disassembly strategies that enable cost-effective disassembly and reuse of materials.
This project led by GAIKER has a consortium consisting of 13 partners from across Europe, including leading research centers, universities and other interested actors in the sector. This The diversity of the partners’ knowledge will guarantee a global approach to achieve the project objectives.
ECORES WIND wants to take important steps in the wind sector and make progress in the development of sustainable materials and processes. Wind energy is essential for the European Union to achieve decarbonisation and promote a clean, resource-efficient and carbon-neutral future.
However, the infrastructure currently used to generate clean electrical energy is paradoxically a source of pollution. Yeah okay Europe is the most important market for wind energy generation and the world leader in offshore wind energyThe sector is expected to grow by an average of 6.5% by 2030.
The increase in wind energy has grown by more than 70% between 2019 and 2023. From 2024 to 2028 the Global wind energy capacity continues to grow at a rapid pace. The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has increased its growth forecast for the period 2024-2030 by 10%.
Wind farms have a limited lifespan. The oldest are usually located in around 15-25 years and as they get olderit is essential to find an end-of-life solution. Currently, many of Europe’s wind farms are approaching the end of their lifespan.
Strategies to tackle Replacing or promoting wind farms is complexas there is still no legislative framework for this. Most rotor blades are made of composite materials, such as glass and carbon fibers and thermoset resins, which have an average lifespan of 25 years and pose serious recycling problems.
ECORES WIND: What are your specific objectives?
ECORES WIND’s main objectives and innovations include the development of circular resin systems that… recyclability and sustainability of wind turbine bladesand the integration of advanced disassembly strategies to ensure that blades can be disassembled and their materials efficiently reused.
The implementation of the project is carried out in close cooperation with technology centers, universities, SMEs and other interested parties will complete the wind turbine supply chain for the wind sector.
This collaboration is essential to ensure that the proposed solution is tailored to the wind turbine industry. In addition, the initiative includes an evaluation of the environmental impacts of the proposed solutions for wind turbines– The benefits of the developed resin systems will be evaluated and compared to existing materials to establish benchmarks that improve sustainability in the wind energy sector.
Wind energy is rapidly developing in Europe and the world and with this in mind, efforts are being made to develop new materials that facilitate the transfer, assembly and recycling of wind energy. wind turbines, essential for the exploitation of this renewable energy.