ÂÌñÏ×ÆÞ

The Horizon Europe REFRESH (Smart dismantling, sorting and REcycling of glass Fibre REinforced composite from wind power Sector through Holistic approach) project is presenting its smart, circular concept for the sustainable management of end-of-service wind turbine blades. Project partners, exhibiting in JEC World’s new Research and Innovation Projects zone, are available to discuss progress, and products incorporating recycled blade materials are on display.

REFRESH is building a circular and sustainable value chain to enable improved recycling of glass fiber-reinforced composite materials from decommissioned wind blades. The EU-funded project focuses on the mechanical and thermochemical treatment of blades. A range of new products resulting from the outputs of the different recycling processes are being designed. A dedicated traceability tool and decision-making software will make it possible to select the most sustainable recycling route for each blade. 

REFRESH innovations include:

• Bade cutting, shredding and sorting technologies
• Customized recycling processes
• New products incorporating recycled materials for use in wind energy and other markets
• A novel blockchain traceability platform covering the whole value chain. 

The approach developed within the project is being validated via life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) analyses.

The project team comprises 11 partners: project coordinator Rina Consulting (Italy), Acciona Construccion (Spain), CETMA (Italy), Circe (Spain), EuCIA (Belgium), Enecolab Srl (Italy), Gees Recycling (Italy), Gjenkraft (Norway), MTB Manufacturing (France), ETAT9 (France), and Tecnalia (Spain). 

Rina Consulting (project coordinator), ETAT9, Gees Recycling, Gjenkraft, Enecolab and EuCIA are available at JEC World to discuss the project’s objectives and results to date.  

Examples of new products developed using recycled materials include panels for building and construction applications manufactured using the Gees Recycling mechanical process, and skis incorporating fibers recovered using Gjenkraft’s advanced thermal process. There is also a blade tip display created by ETAT9. 

Additionally, REFRESH partners are presenting on the Open Stage located in the Research and Innovation Projects area in Hall 6. Project coordinator Daniel Grisenti of Rina Consulting is delivering the presentation “REFRESH: From End-of-Use Blades to New Products” on Tuesday, March 4 from 3:15 – 3:35 p.m. and Thursday, March 6 from 11:15 – 11:35 p.m. 

REFRESH is funded under the Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 101096858. The project commenced in January 2023 and will last 48 months.  

Visit the REFRESH project at Booth D114-3 in Hall 6.