Germany's Voodin installs 100% recyclable wooden turbine blade prototype

German wooden wind turbine blade manufacturer Voodin Blade Technology has installed the prototype of a 19.3-metre laminated veneer lumber (LVL) blades on an existing turbine in Breuna, Germany, the firm said in an announcement on Thursday.

Presenting its solution to the mounting blade waste problem, Voodin Blade said its LVL blade is 100% recyclable, costs up to 20% less, and enables the turbines to cut CO2 emissions by 78%, compared to traditional blades made from fiberglass and carbon fiber.

“At the end of their lifecycle, most blades are buried in the ground or incinerated. This means that -- at this pace -- we will end up with 50 million tonnes of blade material waste by 2050. With our solution, we want to help green energy truly become as green as possible,” stated Tom Siekmann, CEO at Voodin Blade Technology.

The company highlighted several manufacturing benefits of its technology, such as using CNC milling to create complex 3D shapes and achieve a high degree of automation and flexibility, which then reduces the need for labour. This potentially allows for blade production to be closer to the projects, reduce reliance on overseas manufacturing where labour is cheaper and lower transportation emissions, according to Voodin.

Furthermore, Voodin’s internal tests have found its wooden blades are tough enough to withstand all kinds of onshore weather conditions, the company's co-founder Jorge Castillo added.

“We have conducted hundreds of laboratory tests during the past two years to perfect the blade material. According to all our tests, our blades are even more durable than the existing fiberglass blades, as they show fewer fatigue characteristics and are proven to endure all kinds of onshore weather conditions extremely well,” Castillo said.

Voodin is now focused on building new prototypes, including 60-metre and 80-metre blades.

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