Potential Use of Natural Fibre Reinforced Composites as Alternative Materials for Wind Turbine Blades – Short Review

With the rise and implementation of decarbonization policies at global level, there has been a rapid and increasing shift towards renewable energy sources. Wind energy has been one such alternative and greener source of energy which uses the wind turbine blades (WTBs) to harness and convert the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy. On the downside, WTBs have poor recyclability attributes, which tend to be costly and complex, as they are manufactured from high-strength composite materials to meet their lightweight and intricate airfoil shape requirements. With many of the wind turbines approaching the end of their lifetime in service in the coming years, a surge in the amount of WTBs destined for the landfill is forecasted to surge in the upcoming decades. This could result in an ecological issue which could be worsened if sustainable measures are not considered and implemented in the medium and long term. This study aims to review the use of alternative sustainable materials, namely Natural Fibre Reinforced Composites (NFRCs), which could replace presently-used composites such as Glass Fibre Reinforced Composites (GFRCs) and Carbon Fibre Reinforced Composites (CFRCs). In the first part of this study, some typically used NFRCs and their key attributes for WTBs fabrication were reviewed. The potential of using fully biodegradable NFRCs for WTBs and their associated benefits were also discussed. Finally, the notable advantages and limitations observed when integrating NFRCs into modern WTBs were further discussed in this short review study. The findings of this study clearly show that the use of NFRCs in WTBs can largely enhance sustainability in the wind renewable energy sector while concurrently addressing some of the ecological factors associated with their disposal stage.