Wind energy provided 7% of the total electricity in the United States in 2019. Since 2008, the number of coal-fired power plants has declined, as the use of renewable energy and natural gas has increased. Wind energy is an excellent way to reduce carbon emissions, but what will happen when the wind turbine blades wear out? Is there a waste management issue?
The design life of wind turbines is about 20 to 25 years. The longest wind turbine blade to date is 350 feet. Although certain parts of wind turbines can be relatively easily recycled, others are not designed for recycling. Many spent turbine blades are piling up in landfills. However, researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are making progress in this area.
They developed a blade out of thermoplastic resin that is low-cost, lightweight, and seems to be recyclable. If the new blade also proves to be strong, this will be a game changer for the offshore and onshore wind industry. Lower costs also could help improve wind energy efficiency, reducing the use of fossil fuels. A lightweight blade is easier to transport and uses less fuel. It also seems easier to recycle and uses less energy in the production process. “With the traditional material, it’s almost like when you fry an egg. It’s finished and you can’t undo that,” said Derek Berry, a senior engineer at NREL. “But with a thermoplastic resin system, you can make a blade out of it. You heat it to a certain temperature, and it melts back down. You can get the liquid resin back and reuse that.”
Although the research looks promising, progress will be slow. Most wind farms being constructed today will stop working in a few decades. The benefits of recyclable blades are still decades away at least. The associated environmental impact has largely been a blind spot for the industry. Hopefully, recent progress will help make wind power even greener.
【小题1】What is the disadvantage of the current wind turbine blade?| A．Its high cost. | B．Its limited use. |
| C．Its negative impact on the environment. | D．Its inefficiency in producing electricity. |
| A．Why thermoplastic resin is strong. | B．How thermoplastic resin is recycled. |
| C．The widespread of thermoplastic resin. | D．The production process of thermoplastic resin. |
| A．Pessimistic. | B．Careless. | C．Doubtful. | D．Optimistic. |
| A．A new way to develop turbine blades. | B．A fresh approach to using wind power. |
| C．An unknown renewable energy source. | D．The way to tear down old turbine blades. |
