Denmark Is Making Bike Shelters From Repurposed Old Wind Turbine Blades And They’re Awesome

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The Danes are known for many things such as LEGO, wind energy, and the discovery of insulin, just to name a few. Also known for their cycling and sustainability efforts, this eco-friendly and eco-thinking nation is into upcycling in order to lessen their carbon footprint as well, and one incredible way they are doing this is by turning old wine turbine blades and converting them into bike shelters.

In Denmark, statistics show that 9 out of 10 Danes own a bicycle. In addition, around a third of the population also ride their bikes to work at least one time during one week. Moreover, around one-third of all their trips that require less than 3.5 miles of travel are also done via bicycle. Since the country has so many people that bike everywhere, they also need bike lockup areas and shelters all throughout the country, hence the wine turbine blades turned bike shelters.


Since turbine blades go through intense force such as incredible winds, the first and second generation of turbines that had blades were made from advanced composite materials such as foams, resins and fiberglass. Because of this though, they were basically impossible to recycle. This also means that earlier built blades are being decommissioned, which is also creating unwanted waste within the country, causing them undue stress.

Unlike earlier times when people weren’t too concerned about waste and pollution wasn’t a major world issue, these days, there are always plans and ways to recycle things being put in place just like these supposed unrecyclable turbine blades.

In fact, scientists and advocates, such as the ones at Re-Wind Network, have been busy hypothesizing and creating ways to do the impossible, which is figuring out ways to recycle 40 million tons of these throwaway turbine blades into something entirely new.

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The Re-Wind Network group has published papers in a number of journals where they speak about the ways that rigid blades can be successfully used in several infrastructure and construction projects, such as the bike shelters they created in Denmark, as well as for pedestrian footbridges, traffic guard rails, and for structural reinforcement.

In one particular instance, a 100-meter wind turbine blade was used as roofing material for a 40-square meter home.

As for another project, it was also discovered that a C96 wind turbine blade met the safety requirements required to be used as a powerline support pole due to their resistance to ‘torsion, shear, bend, and other effects from ice, extreme wind, fire, and vehicular collision.’

As for the major international supplier of wind turbines, Siemens Gamesa, they announced they  will build their new blades to be fully recyclable.


CEO of Siemens Gamesa, Andreas Nauen, shared, “The time to tackle climate emergency is now, and we need to do it in a holistic way. In pioneering wind circularity – where elements contribute to a circular economy of the wind industry – we have reached a major milestone in a society that puts care for the environment at its heart.”

Notably, Denmark isn’t the only country that the Re-Wind group is working with. They are also starting a project in Ireland alongside the Cork Institute of Technology that’s working on recycling three wind turbines discarded during the end of 2020 from a Belfast farm. The hope it to turn them into skate parks, sound barriers or stadium bleachers. But they are also thinking about using them for electric towers.

There’s no doubt that advocacy groups such as Re-Wind Network are making a difference in the world when it comes to making changes for climate change. Hopefully, they won’t be the only ones and many others begin to follow suit.

 

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