China’s Goldwind uses old wind turbine blades as raw material for 3D printing

Wind turbine manufacturers continue to compete with each other in terms of environmental responsibility and efficient waste management.

The Chinese company Goldwind is one of the ten largest wind turbine manufacturers in the world, and in 2021 it ranked second in it.

At Goldwind Headquarters, China’s first “zero-emissions renewable energy business park”, flower beds made from recycled solid waste have been 3D printed.

Unlike traditional 3D printing materials, the materials used for the flower beds were sourced from decommissioned turbine blades from a wind farm in Inner Mongolia. At the same time, the company sought to increase the proportion of crushed blades in the material for 3D printing in compliance with all strength requirements, which was a certain technical challenge.

The researchers conducted a series of experiments, constantly adjusting the ratio of diverse types of raw materials, as well as the size and gradation of the crushed particles of the blades. They eventually found the “golden ratio” that met the requirements for strength and created a series of materials suitable for 3D printing.

The mechanical properties, durability, and performance of the finished product made from these new materials are…