A Swiss startup is using recycled wind turbine blades to horizontally support solar panels instead of steel beams.
Complete with solar panels, windmill blades
Founded in 2022, Turn2Sun is based in Neuchâtel and calls it "Blade2Sun" due to its use of used wind blades to support solar panels.
The company explains: “The strength of the blades allows for wide-wing designs that cover large areas with minimal land use for space bases. This, in turn, allows larger PV panels to be installed, minimizing the impact on the ground below them.
Turn2Sun and the federal department of Armasuse have jointly carried out a pilot project at an altitude of 2,500 meters (8,202 feet) in the Swiss Alps (pictured above) in Graubünden. The model had 16 430 W solar panels connected to 8.4 m (27.5 ft) wind turbines.
The Alpine Blade2Sun pilot proved that this is possible even in the most difficult conditions.
Why use such a knife?
There are currently over 340,000 wind turbines installed worldwide. In Europe alone, about 25,000 wind turbines will fail in the next few years.
While over 95% of wind turbine components can be recycled, recycling blades is challenging because they are made from composite materials (mainly fiberglass). As a result, used leaves are mostly burned in cement plants or incinerators. The unique strength properties that allow wind turbine blades to cut through the air at speeds in excess of 300 kilometers per hour (186 mph) can be used in other ways, according to Invest Western Switzerland.
So what is the future of this innovative use of old wind turbine blades? Turn2Sun founder Lionel Perret said:
Many international players are interested in our solutions. We are forming alliances to offer solutions in other countries as well as to integrate large wind turbines.
What are your thoughts on giving new life to old wind turbines as solar panels? Let us know in the comments below.
Read more: Danish windmill has learned to recycle all the blades
Photo: Turn2Sun
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