A Swiss startup is mounting solar panels on used wind turbine blades

A Swiss startup is utilizing reclaimed wind turbine blades as a substitute of metallic beams as horizontal helps for photo voltaic panels.

Photo voltaic panels, meet wind turbine blades

Based in 2022, Turn2Sun relies in Neuchâtel and calls its use of second-life wind turbine blades to assist photo voltaic panels “Blade2Sun.”

The corporate explains, “The power of the blades allows constructions with broad wingspan, overlaying massive areas with minimal floor use, due to spaced-out foundations. This in turns enables you to set up massive PV arrays with low-impact on the land beneath.”

Turn2Sun and the federal division Armasuisse partnered up and carried out a pilot in Grisons, within the Swiss Alps (pictured above), at an altitude of two,500 m (8,202 ft). The prototype had round 16 430-watt photo voltaic panels connected to eight.4-meter (27.5-foot) wind turbine blades.

The Alpine pilot confirmed that Blade2Sun is possible, even in excessive situations.

Why use blades this fashion?

There are greater than 340,000 wind generators at present put in worldwide. In Europe alone, round 25,000 wind generators will attain end-of-life within the subsequent few years.

Though it’s potential to recycle greater than 95% of a wind turbine’s parts, the blades are nonetheless difficult to recycle, as they’re comprised of composite supplies (mostly fiberglass). In consequence, used blades are primarily burned in cement crops or incineration crops. Wind turbine blades’ distinctive resistance properties that enable them to chop by means of the air at over 300 km/h (186 mph) could possibly be used in a different way, as Make investments Western Switzerland points out.

So what’s subsequent for this artistic use of previous wind turbine blades? Lionel Perret, cofounder of Turn2Sun, stated:

A number of international gamers are curious about our resolution. We’re growing partnerships to have the ability to supply the answer in different international locations, additionally integrating bigger wind turbine blades.

What do you consider giving previous wind turbine blades a brand new life as photo voltaic assist? Tell us within the feedback down beneath.

Learn extra: A Danish wind turbine giant just discovered how to recycle all blades

Picture: Turn2Sun

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