German Firm Debuts Wooden Turbine Blades

Wind turbine blade manufacturer Voodin Blade Technology GmbH recently announced the first prototype installation of its 19.3 m wooden wind turbine blades on an existing wind turbine in Breuna, Germany.

Most existing wind turbine blades are made of fiberglass and carbon fiber bound together with epoxy resin, materials that are difficult to recycle, unreusable and expensive to break down. Voodin Blade Technology’s wooden wind turbine blades are made of LVL, which is sustainable and recyclable.

With the first generation of wind turbine blades beginning to reach the end of their average 20-25 year life cycles, Voodin Blade Technology officials say they are providing a more sustainable turbine blade solution that ensures more sustainable wind energy production in the future.

Hundreds of tests during the past two years to perfect the blade material show the new wooden blades are even more durable than existing fiberglass blades, show fewer fatigue characteristics and are able to endure all kinds of onshore weather conditions, explains Jorge Castillo, co-founder of Voodin Blade Technology. The company is building new prototypes, including bigger 60 m and 80 m blades as a next step.