Repurposing waste wind turbine blades as GFRP rebars in inorganic polymer concrete: A feasibility study

Although wind turbines are designed for long-term operation (20–35 years), many are approaching end-of-life, calling for efficient and cost-effective recycling strategies. In current industrial practice, blades are shredded as a whole, producing mixed waste streams with shortened fibres and resin-rich residues, thereby reducing material value and limiting reuse to low-value filler applications. This study presents, for the first time, a high-value repurposing route in which decommissioned wind turbine blades are selectively cut into GFRP rebars and incorporated into industrial slag-based concrete. The process preserves the original composite structure of the blade, while the concrete matrix valorises industrial slag as a low-carbon binder. Technical assessments reveal that even after 20 years of service, the fibres in the blade are not much damaged and still retain sufficient strength. The tensile and bond strengths of the recycled rebar reach 1063 MPa and 17.6 MPa, respectively, which are comparable to commercial fibreglass rebars. Life cycle analysis further reveals a 79% reduction in CO 2 emissions and 60% lower production cost compared to virgin GFRP rebars. These findings confirm the technical, environmental and economic viability of blade-to-rebar repurposing for sustainable concrete applications.