Cork outfit BladeBridge is collaborating with ESB to construct e-mobility infrastructure using decommissioned blades.
As part of the collaboration, a pilot has been developed that will see the construction of an e-mobility hub using repurposed, decommissioned wind turbine blades.
BladeBridge, a start-up specialising in wind turbine blade repurposing, took part in the “2050 Accelerator” programme, a sustainability-focused start-up accelerator run by Dogpatch Labs, in partnership with ESB.
Over the past few months, the ESB Innovation team working at the X_Site hub for sustainable innovation has collaborated with BladeBridge to identify new ways to repurpose wind turbine blades.
Donal Phelan, Head of Innovation at ESB Group, said: “We are delighted to be working with BladeBridge to repurpose wind turbine blades through the development of an exciting e-mobility hub that will showcase that this type of infrastructure can still serve a purpose after decommissioning while preventing further landfill waste.
“Our expertise in understanding the civic environment, safety and electrical standards, and engineering and design capabilities, together with BladeBridge’s expertise in blade reverse engineering for repurposing, are what make this project possible.”
Angie Nagle, CEO of BladeBridge, said: “Wind turbines have a 25-year lifespan, and the blade is the only part of the turbine that is not commercially recyclable – which poses a huge problem for wind farm owners.
“Once decommissioned, these blades still have a lot of life left in them, as they are crafted from composite materials that withstand massive forces and extreme weather conditions.”