Timber producer Stora Enso and Voodin Blade Technology have signed a partnership agreement to develop wind turbine blades from wood.
Under the agreement, the two companies are committed to developing sustainable alternatives for wind turbine blades and creating a competitive and reliable supply chain.
The partners are producing and installing a 20 metre blade for a 500kW turbine near Warburg, Germany by the end of 2022 and have plans for an 80 metre blade.
Voodin Blades is a German-based start-up company developing sustainable rotor blades for wind turbines.
Stora Enso makes timber products, including laminated veneer lumber (LVL), a construction material suitable for wind farm constructions.
“Through this partnership with Voodin Blades we further accelerate our ability to develop a sustainable and competitive supply chain for the growing market of wind turbine blades,” said Lars Völkel, Executive Vice President, Wood Products Division, Stora Enso.
Wind power blades are typically produced with fibreglass and carbon fibre, energy-intensive non-renewable plastics made from petrochemicals that cannot be easily recycled.
By developing blades with sustainable wood, Stora Enso and Voodin Blades can make the blades lighter and reduce the overall dependency on fossil fuel extraction.
“The wind industry as a key driver towards carbon neutrality needs to become 100% sustainable and environmentally friendly.
“With the installation of the 20 metre blade, we are opening a path towards a more sustainable future.
“In time we will start to develop and manufacture blades for future multi-megawatt turbines,” said Joachim Knapp, mechanical engineer and automation expert with Voodin Blades.
The first 20 metre blade will be developed using Stora Enso’s LVL, a mass timber product that has a high load-bearing capacity that easily supports large-scale rotary blades.
Unlike steel and concrete, LVL is relatively lightweight to transport on-site without heavy-duty equipment.