Unsustainable Wind Turbine Blade Disposal Practices in the United States
Unsustainable Wind Turbine Blade Disposal Practices in the United States
复制标题
美国不可持续的风力涡轮机叶片处置做法
DOI:
--
复制
发表时间:
2017
期刊:
影响因子:
--
通讯作者:
Sarah Pike
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
Katerin Ramirez;David A. Turcotte;Sarah Pike
Finding ways to manage the waste from the expected high number of wind turbine blades in need of disposal is crucial to harvest wind energy in a truly sustainable manner. Landfilling is the most cost-effective disposal method in the United States, but it imposes significant environmental impacts. Thermal, mechanical, and chemical processes allow for some energy and/or material recovery, but they also carry potential negative externalities. This article explores the main economic and environmental issues with various wind turbine blade disposal methods. We argue for the necessity of policy intervention that encourages industry to develop better technologies to make wind turbine blade disposal sustainable, both environmentally and economically. We present some of the technological initiatives being researched, such as the use of bio-derived resins and thermoplastic composites in the manufacturing process of the blades.