End-of-life management of advanced composite materials: A review focused on wind turbine blade waste and cement co-processing

The widespread adoption of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in the wind energy sector has been instrumental in the global renewable energy transition. However, this success created a formidable environmental challenge: the end-of-life (EoL) management of wind turbine blades (WTBs). Methodologically, this study adopts a critical systematic review approach, integrating and synthesizing evidence from peer-reviewed academic literature and industrial reports to comparatively assess EoL strategies against the criteria of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and economic feasibility. Unlike reviews focusing on mechanical downcycling or emerging chemical methods, this paper prioritizes industrial scalability, addressing cumulative waste projected to exceed 6.5 million tons by 2049. A critical analysis of EoL management strategies highlights the fundamental trade-off between scalability and value recovery. Amid these options, cement co-processing is distinguished not merely as a disposal route but as a dual-recovery mechanism distinct from passive filler applications. It emerges as the most mature and pragmatic solution for the predominant glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) waste stream. This process recovers energy while leveraging the inorganic fraction for clinker mineralization, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional disposal. We conclude that while an integrated ecosystem is the ultimate goal, cement co-processing provides the essential, immediately deployable pathway to manage the legacy WTB fleet, ensuring the continued sustainability of wind energy. • Legacy GFRP blades present a fundamental economic mismatch for high-cost chemical recycling. • Cement co-processing outperforms mechanical recycling into concrete via chemical mineralization. • Co-processing offers the only TRL-9 route capable of absorbing the impending megaton-scale waste wave. • The new ISO 4349 standard validates co-processing as material recycling, unlocking industrial scalability.