CIRCWIND

Development of CIRCular optimised material solutions for WIND turbine blades and support structures.

• In a context where a growing number of Wind Turbines are reaching their End of Life, the CIRCWIND project aims to develop and validate groundbreaking technologies in materials and metamaterials for use in current and future wind turbines, to enhance reliability and lifetime, performance, operability and maintainability, as well as to find cost-efficient pathways towards complete circularity. 
   
  In alignment with the objectives of the Horizon-CL5-2023-D3-02-15, as well as those of key stakeholders in the EU Offshore Wind Energy Market, the CIRCWIND project will deliver innovations in the simulation, design, and manufacture of both blades and concrete floaters for use in offshore wind turbines. These innovations aim to provide enhanced reliability, life extension, reduced O&M costs and minimized environmental impact, including carbon footprint (CF) for the floating wind farms, improvements in the LCOE, and improved circularity solutions for the component’s end of life (EoL). This is to be obtained through more in-depth knowledge of the damage processes involved to understand which are the cause of failures during the components’ life, achieve improve materials design to enhance reliability and extend life. 
  • A prototype Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) material for blades with improved damage-tolerance and fatigue life, using a new multiscale modelling tool and simulation framework.
  • A circular low Carbon concrete material for offshore floating WT based on a new geopolymer binder and circular lightweight aggregates (CLWA).
  • New virtual replica-based constitutive models and simulation tools for the FRP material and geopolymer concrete, coupled with monitoring technologies allowing to simulate and predict failure and lifetime, and enabling future digital twinning for blade and substructure components. - Integrated sustainability analysis addressing social, economic and environmental aspects, as well as improved circularity.

CIRCWIND’s most relevant results will be:

The CIRCWIND project is poised to deliver significant scientific, economic, sociopolitical, and societal advancements, addressing critical challenges in the offshore wind energy sector while driving innovation and sustainability across multiple dimensions. Through its multifaceted impact, the CIRCWIND project not only addresses current challenges in offshore wind energy but also lays the groundwork for a sustainable and inclusive energy future.