Can old wind turbine blades become power poles? Researchers found one major problem

A wind turbine blade that has spent years generating electricity could potentially serve another purpose after being taken out of service. Researchers tested that idea in a project examining whether part of a retired blade could be adapted for use as a high voltage electricity transmission pole.

The study, which was published on October 18, 2024, examined a prototype made from a 5.5 meter section cut from a decommissioned GE37 wind turbine blade. The researchers assessed how the structure performed under load and identified a weakness in one of its connections. The experiment helped provide evidence that retired blade material could have a second use in electrical infrastructure.

Why Retired Wind Turbine Blades Are Difficult to Recycle

As Wind turbine blades are mostly made from glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites, these materials provide the strength needed for turbine blades but their composition can make end of life management challenging.


Wind turbine blades have service life of 20 to 25 years, as per researchers. And when older turbines are decommissioned, their blades need to be disposed, recycled or reused.

The methods used to manage composite waste are landfilling, incineration and physical or even chemical recycling. Researchers are also investigating whether retired blades can be repurposed as structural components in civil infrastructure.

The Re-Wind Network is among the research initiatives exploring such applications. Its work includes investigating ways to adapt decommissioned wind turbine blades for new structural uses, including the BladePole concept.

What the BladePole Test Revealed

The experiment recorded a vertical load of 57.8 kilonewtons at the braced line conductor connection location. The researchers reported a minimum safety margin of 2.5 for the proposed application.

However, the prototype failed when a weld in its custom-designed universal connector fractured. The researchers said the failure suggested the blade body could sustain a higher load, potentially allowing a higher pole rating or a greater safety factor.

That finding does not mean the complete structure can safely carry additional loads without further assessment. The connector failure showed that the hardware joining the blade to the rest of the structure was an important part of the design.

The research team included authors affiliated with Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States and Yarmouk University in Jordan. The study was published in the Journal of Composites for Construction by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Could Retired Wind Turbine Blades Find a Second Life

The BladePole project illustrates one possible way to reuse material from decommissioned wind turbines. Instead of sending every retired blade directly to disposal or recycling, researchers are now investigating whether sections can be adapted for infrastructure applications.

The study provides experimental evidence for the tested prototype and not proof that the approach is commercially viable at scale. More engineering work and testing are needed for suitability for broader deployment.