In an announcement by Voodin, it was revealed that 19.3-meter wooden blades were mounted on an existing turbine in Germany. The company also stated that these are the world’s first wooden wind turbine blades. According to current reports, turbines are typically 85-95% recyclable, but due to the type of resin they typically use, recycling the blades is quite difficult. Tom Siekmann, CEO of Voodin Blade Technology, says that most blades are either buried or burned at the end of their lifecycle. The company claims that these wooden blades produce less than 78% CO2 emissions during construction and also reduce production costs by 20%.

According to the CEO, if this rate continues, by 2050, we will face 50 million tons of blade material waste. This roughly equals eight times the weight of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Voodin, on the other hand, produces turbine blades made from laminated veneer lumber (LVL), a material claimed to offer high strength with a minimum carbon footprint.

Recyclable Wind Turbine Blades

The company claims that wooden blades have much better recyclability compared to industry-standard blades made from fiberglass and carbon fiber bonded with epoxy resin, which is difficult and expensive to break down. Voodin is also collaborating with paper and pulp giant Stora Enso to improve LVL blades. As part of the partnership, Voodin plans to build 60 and 80-meter blades in the future. Stora Enso is also collaborating with Modvion, which installed the world’s tallest wooden tower wind turbine.

Additionally, Voodin’s emphasis on wooden blades comes at a perfect time. The lifespan of traditional wind turbine blades is around 20 to 25 years. Therefore, early-generation turbine blades are reaching the stage of replacement.