Voodin Blade Technology, a German manufacturer of wooden wind turbine blades, has successfully installed a prototype of its innovative laminated veneer lumber (LVL) blades on an existing turbine in Breuna, Germany, the company announced on Thursday.
Addressing the growing concern of blade waste in the renewable energy sector, Voodin Blade emphasized that its LVL blades offer a sustainable solution. The company's CEO, Tom Siekmann, stated, “At the end of their lifecycle, most blades are buried in the ground or incinerated. This means that — at this pace — we will end up with 50 million tonnes of blade material waste by 2050. With our solution, we want to help green energy truly become as green as possible.”
According to Voodin Blade, its LVL blades are 100% recyclable, cost up to 20% less than traditional fiberglass and carbon fiber blades, and enable turbines to reduce CO2 emissions by 78%.
The company highlighted several manufacturing benefits of its technology, including the use of CNC milling to create complex 3D shapes, achieving a high degree of automation and flexibility, and reducing the need for labor. This approach could potentially allow for blade production to be closer to project sites, reducing reliance on overseas manufacturing and lowering transportation emissions.
Jorge Castillo, co-founder of Voodin Blade Technology, emphasized the durability of the wooden blades, stating, “We have conducted hundreds of laboratory tests during the past two years to perfect the blade material. According to all our tests, our blades are even more durable than the existing fiberglass blades, as they show fewer fatigue characteristics and are proven to endure all kinds of onshore weather conditions extremely well.”
Moving forward, Voodin is focused on building new prototypes, including 60-meter and 80-meter blades, to further expand its innovative offerings in the renewable energy sector.
