EDGE Innovate launches shredder to tackle wind turbine blade waste
10 October 2024
EDGE Innovate has launched the HS750 horizontal shredder, a machine designed to address the growing challenge of decommissioned wind turbine blades.
The HS750 Shredder from Edge Innovate (PHOTO: Edge Innovate)
As turbines installed in the early 2000s reach the end of their 20 to 25-year lifespan, thousands of blades are being retired annually, creating a significant waste problem.
According the to OEM, in the US alone, around 8,000 blades are decommissioned each year - most of which are currently sent to landfill due to the difficulty and cost of recycling them.
With that number expected to rise sharply as the wind industry expands, EDGE Innovate says its HS750 shredder offers a solution.
The slow-speed model is described as a new concept in the shredder word, that offers both high capacity shredding and resistance to non-shreddables.
Powered by a Stage V/Tier 4 Final C18 engine from Caterpillar, the HS750 machine is capable of shredding tough fibreglass blades into manageable pieces, streamlining the recycling process.
It features an intelligent material management system and a tramp metal protection system, and all its major functions can be controlled by a single operator, and via radio remote control.
It incorporates a two-stage cutting system with top and bottom anvils for particle sizing, and is fitted with a 1400-mm (55-inch) wide discharge conveyor that offers a discharge height of 6.6 m (21 ft 3 in).
The HS750 weighs 52.5 tonnes and has transport dimensions of 3.1 m wide (10 ft 2 in) and 15.9 m long (52 ft 1 in), with a height of 3.5 m (11 ft 5 in).
The company says the shredder reduces the need for extensive blade preparation, cutting down on handling time and making transportation and processing more efficient.
Lee Williamson, EDGE Innovate’s North American Distributor Manager, said: “EDGE waste shredders meet the highest standards, offering robust, durable solutions that handle tough materials. With lower rotor RPMs, our high torque shredders maintain production rates while minimizing dust, a critical factor in this particular application.
Lee added: “The EDGE HS750 is a game-changer for US clients, streamlining wind blade recycling and reducing environmental impact.”
The launch of the HS750 comes as the wind industry faces increasing pressure to find sustainable ways to deal with turbine blade waste.
Landfilling is not considered a long-term solution, and advancements like the HS750 shredder could provide a more environmentally friendly alternative by enabling the repurposing of blade materials for use in industries such as cement production and composite manufacturing.
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