Group of people in front on large screen.

The REFRESH team at the General Assembly in Brindisi.

The REFRESH team travelled to Italy this month for the project’s 4th General Assembly.

The meeting on 21-22 January was hosted by CETMA, leader of the project’s ‘Design for Circularity’ activities, at its research centre in Brindisi.

This meeting celebrated the 24th month of the project. At this point, half-way through the project, the REFRESH value chain is becoming a reality. The General Assembly was an opportunity to review progress to date and discuss the next steps in implementing the technologies developed in the first phase of project: from preparation of blades for recycling (cutting, shredding, and materials sorting), to the different recycling solutions being developed in the project.

Work is also focusing on the design of demonstrator products that will incorporate the recycled materials, life cycle assessment (LCA) of processes, and development of the digital traceability platform which will cover the entire value chain.

The first day of the meeting was dedicated to updates from active work packages (WPs) and discussion of activities for the coming months.

Blade preparation and recycling

Three people seated at a desk in front of a screen.

Giorgio Betteto discusses the Gees mechanical recycling process.

WP4: Process integration, demonstration and testing at TRL 7 is progressing well. Led by Gees Recycling, this work package commenced in July 2024 and will finish in June 2025. The main objective is to construct the plants designed during the first phase of the project.

Jean-Baptiste Strehaiano presented ETAT9‘s progress on the prototyping of the dismantling solutions. The company has been optimising techniques for on-site cutting of blades prior to their recycling and repurposing. It is also collaborating with CETMA on a repurposing demonstration: a picnic table made using blade parts.

Next, Esthel Osso of MTB Manufacturing discussed the prototyping of the blade shredding and materials sorting solutions. The possible outputs from these steps and their subsequent processing into new products are being explored.

Giorgio Betteto of Gees Recycling updated the team on progress towards the new mechanical recycling line being constructed at the company’s plant in Aviano, Italy, and Marcin Rusin reported that equipment needed to upscale Gjenkraft‘s thermal recycling process in Høyanger, Norway, is being purchased ready for integration into the line.

CIRCE continues to develop its microwave (MW)-assisted recycling processes. Nacho Julián reported that a techno-economic analysis of the MW pyrolysis and MW solvolysis processes at different scales has been carried out. A lab-scale comparison between MW- and conventionally-assisted pyrolysis in terms of energy efficiency and product quality is underway.

ENECOLAB‘s role in REFRESH is to convert the dust and fines produced during the blade cutting and shredding processes into energy and by-products using its thermochemical technology. Lucio Marquardt noted that preliminary tests on blade materials have been performed.

Digital platform and demonstrator products

Three people sit at a desk in front of a large screen.

Anurag Bansal presents ACCIONA’s role in the project.

A key part of REFRESH concept is the blockchain traceability platform, which will cover the entire value chain. A decision-making tool will also be developed to select the optimal recycling route for blades based on various criteria (technical, economic, environmental etc.). This work is part of WP5: Digital platform and prototype development, which is led by TECNALIA. David Garcia and Aitor Gomez discussed the objectives of the smart tool for traceability and decision-making algorithm. A Knowledge Hub will gather data on the REFRESH technologies and products.

As part of this work package TECNALIA is also developing a cement-based material incorporating recycled fibres which will be suitable for 3D printing. Ruben Castano reported that tests to determine the suitability of recycled fibres (from the mechanical and thermal recycling processes) for 3D printing are planned for the next six months.

Anurag Bansal of ACCIONA ​discussed requirements for demo manufacturing, as well as ideas for blade repurposing in infrastructure (for WP6). 

Fibres in plastic bags on a table.

Nonwoven mat made from recycled glass fibres produced by Gjenkraft.

There was a lot more to report from WP6: Circular by Design, which is led by CETMA. Andrea Tinti explained how this work is investigating possible products manufactured with the recycled materials as well as repurposing applications. The possibilities include: a picnic table, formwork panels, shelters and containers for equipment, a nonwoven glass fibre mat for a wind blade outer skin, nonwoven glass fibre insulation for building applications, and applications in concrete structures (a prototype /1/25 scale 3D printed wind tower).

This work package is also carrying out a sustainability analysis for each process and end-product​, including environmental analysis (LCA), economic viability (LCC), and social sustainability (S-LCA). Ioana Muntean of RINA discussed the progress of the experimental LCA of the recycling processes.​

​To complete the day, EuCIA and RINA presented the latest activities in WP7: Dissemination, Communication and Exploitation, and project coordinator Daniel Grisenti of RINA closed the meeting with a review of upcoming actions in WP8: Project Management.

Site visit: Vestas

On the second day of the meeting, the REFRESH team made the short journey to Taranto to Vestas’ blade production plant, where the 115.5 m blades for the 15 MW V236 turbine. This visit was kindly arranged by our partner EuCIA.

This two-hour tour was an amazing opportunity to see how Vestas manufactures its blades, from moulding, through to finishing and painting. We thank Domenico Cannatà and his colleagues at Vestas for showing us around the plant and for answering all our questions!

Group of people in high-vis jackets stand at side of the root of a wind turbine blade.

The REFRESH team at Vestas’ Taranto site on 22nd January.

Meet REFRESH at JEC World 2025

REFRESH is exhibiting at JEC World, the leading international composites show, in Paris on 4-6 March. Please visit us on stand 6D114-03 in the Research and Innovation Projects zone. Representatives from the REFRESH partners will be available on the stand to discuss the REFRESH technologies. There will also be demonstrator products on display.

There will also be two REFRESH presentations on the Open Stage during the exhibition.

If you like to arrange a meeting with one of the team at JEC World please contact us.