Stora Enso and Voodin Blade Technology have signed a partnership agreement to develop sustainable 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. They are currently producing and installing a 20 metre blade for a 0.5 MW turbine 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 is a supplier of mass timber products, including LVL (laminated veneer lumber). 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.
Stora Enso is providing 100% sustainable wood for the new 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 largescale rotary blades . The 20 metre blade will be installed on a 0.5MW turbine near Warburg, Germany by the end of 2022.
