Stora Enso and Voodin Blade Technology GmbH are teaming up to develop sustainable wind turbine blades from wood.
Under the agreement, timber supplier Stora Enso and German start-up Voodin Blades plan to develop sustainable alternatives for wind turbine blades and create a robust supply chain.
Currently, they are producing and installing a 20m blade for a 0.5MW turbine and have plans for an 80m blade.
The first 20m blade will be developed using Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL). According to Stora Enso, unlike steel and concrete, LVL is relatively lightweight to transport on-site without heavy-duty equipment. Furthermore, LVL is a renewable material with a minimal carbon footprint.
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The 20m blade will be installed on a 0.5MW turbine near Warburg, Germany by the end of 2022.
“The wind industry as a key driver towards carbon neutrality needs to become 100% sustainable and environmentally friendly. With the installation of the 20m blade, we are opening a path towards a more sustainable future. In time we will start to develop and manufacture blades for future multi-megawatt turbines,” said Joachim Knapp, mechanical engineer and automation expert with Voodin Blades.
“With the current energy crisis and ambitious decarbonisation goals, wind energy has never been more in demand. Through this partnership with Voodin Blades we further accelerate our ability to develop a sustainable and competitive supply chain for the growing market of wind turbine blades,” said Lars Völkel, executive vice president, Wood Products Division, Stora Enso.
Wind power blades are typically produced with fibreglass and carbon fibre, energy-intensive non-renewable plastics made from petrochemicals that cannot be easily recycled. Stora Enso and Voodin Blades suggest that by developing blades with sustainable wood, blades will be made lighter with a reduced dependency on fossil fuel extraction.
