Comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Traditional and New Sustainable Wind Blade Construction

Gloria Anna Carallo; Marcello Casa; Conor Kelly; Mohamad Alsaadi

doi:10.3390/su17052026

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Traditional and New Sustainable Wind Blade Construction

Gloria Anna Carallo, Marcello Casa, Conor Kelly, Mohamad Alsaadi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The introduction of renewable energy sources (RESs) in the electricity grid mix is essential for a greener world. Wind offshore energy, known for its high flexibility and social acceptance, plays a significant role in this transition. However, the disposal of non-recyclable epoxy–GFRP wind blades produced and installed in the 1990s and 2000s poses environmental challenges. This study explores the development of a novel wind blade using sustainable materials, aiming to enhance eco-friendliness. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) highlights the environmental benefits of replacing epoxy with a thermoplastic recyclable resin in GFRP blades. The findings demonstrate a substantial reduction in environmental footprint, with a 30% decrease in climate change impact, a 97% reduction in freshwater ecotoxicity and a 95% reduction in marine eutrophication. It is evident from the LCA that the replacement of epoxy with a thermoplastic recyclable resin in a GFRP blade substantially reduces its environmental footprint and significantly contributes to the circular economy of RESs.

Original language	English
Article number	2026
Journal	Sustainability (Switzerland)
Volume	17
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/su17052026
Publication status	Published - Mar 2025

Keywords

GFRP
LCA
composite materials
environmental impact
recyclable
sustainability
thermoplastics
wind blade

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.3390/su17052026

Cite this

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title = "Comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Traditional and New Sustainable Wind Blade Construction",

abstract = "The introduction of renewable energy sources (RESs) in the electricity grid mix is essential for a greener world. Wind offshore energy, known for its high flexibility and social acceptance, plays a significant role in this transition. However, the disposal of non-recyclable epoxy–GFRP wind blades produced and installed in the 1990s and 2000s poses environmental challenges. This study explores the development of a novel wind blade using sustainable materials, aiming to enhance eco-friendliness. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) highlights the environmental benefits of replacing epoxy with a thermoplastic recyclable resin in GFRP blades. The findings demonstrate a substantial reduction in environmental footprint, with a 30% decrease in climate change impact, a 97% reduction in freshwater ecotoxicity and a 95% reduction in marine eutrophication. It is evident from the LCA that the replacement of epoxy with a thermoplastic recyclable resin in a GFRP blade substantially reduces its environmental footprint and significantly contributes to the circular economy of RESs.",

keywords = "GFRP, LCA, composite materials, environmental impact, recyclable, sustainability, thermoplastics, wind blade",

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T1 - Comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Traditional and New Sustainable Wind Blade Construction

AU - Carallo, Gloria Anna

AU - Casa, Marcello

AU - Kelly, Conor

AU - Alsaadi, Mohamad

PY - 2025/3

Y1 - 2025/3

N2 - The introduction of renewable energy sources (RESs) in the electricity grid mix is essential for a greener world. Wind offshore energy, known for its high flexibility and social acceptance, plays a significant role in this transition. However, the disposal of non-recyclable epoxy–GFRP wind blades produced and installed in the 1990s and 2000s poses environmental challenges. This study explores the development of a novel wind blade using sustainable materials, aiming to enhance eco-friendliness. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) highlights the environmental benefits of replacing epoxy with a thermoplastic recyclable resin in GFRP blades. The findings demonstrate a substantial reduction in environmental footprint, with a 30% decrease in climate change impact, a 97% reduction in freshwater ecotoxicity and a 95% reduction in marine eutrophication. It is evident from the LCA that the replacement of epoxy with a thermoplastic recyclable resin in a GFRP blade substantially reduces its environmental footprint and significantly contributes to the circular economy of RESs.

AB - The introduction of renewable energy sources (RESs) in the electricity grid mix is essential for a greener world. Wind offshore energy, known for its high flexibility and social acceptance, plays a significant role in this transition. However, the disposal of non-recyclable epoxy–GFRP wind blades produced and installed in the 1990s and 2000s poses environmental challenges. This study explores the development of a novel wind blade using sustainable materials, aiming to enhance eco-friendliness. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) highlights the environmental benefits of replacing epoxy with a thermoplastic recyclable resin in GFRP blades. The findings demonstrate a substantial reduction in environmental footprint, with a 30% decrease in climate change impact, a 97% reduction in freshwater ecotoxicity and a 95% reduction in marine eutrophication. It is evident from the LCA that the replacement of epoxy with a thermoplastic recyclable resin in a GFRP blade substantially reduces its environmental footprint and significantly contributes to the circular economy of RESs.

KW - GFRP

KW - LCA

KW - composite materials

KW - environmental impact

KW - recyclable

KW - sustainability

KW - thermoplastics

KW - wind blade

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U2 - 10.3390/su17052026

DO - 10.3390/su17052026

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:86000597517

SN - 2071-1050

VL - 17

JO - Sustainability (Switzerland)

JF - Sustainability (Switzerland)

IS - 5

M1 - 2026

ER -

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Traditional and New Sustainable Wind Blade Construction

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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