Voodin Blade has announced plans to build the world’s first wooden wind turbine blade factory in Navarre. The pioneering VB1F project, which harnesses the region’s strong local wind energy ecosystem, aims to address one the most pressing needs of this energy source: producing recyclable wind turbine blades. Rather than seeking ways to recycle fibreglass blades, 78% of which end up in landfill at the end of their useful life, the proposal consists of a revolutionary innovation: replacing the raw material with laminated veneer lumber.

When it becomes operational in January 2031, the new plant will create around 450 jobs for highly skilled professionals in production management, operations and maintenance. It will produce up to 160 sets of blades a year, helping to generate up to 13.5 million MWh of electricity over ten years. In its first decade of operation it will prevent the emission of more than 2.4 million tonnes of CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent).

Innovative manufacturing process
The Navarre plant will produce laminated veneer lumber (LVL) blades ranging from 20 to 90 metres in length, and using an innovative, highly automated, mould-free CNC milling process that employs an all-electric multi-purpose processing centre (MPPC). This mould-free approach significantly increases production flexibility, enabling different blade sizes and designs without the need for major retooling.

The blades will be 100% recyclable at the end of their service life and will require 54% less capital investment than traditional methods, thanks to this innovative electrified process, which consumes far less energy. Furthermore, the process generates fewer emissions than conventional methods, while the use of wood enables biogenic carbon to be stored.

Scalable production
The initiative, involving Lithuanian group VMG and German companies Anker-Tec and Voodin Blade Technology, has received 48.18 million euros from the European Union’s Innovation Fund, managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) to support its launch.

In addition to enabling scalable production and a sustainable European supply chain, the project will be fully replicable under licence, allowing facilities to be set up near wind farms worldwide.

^{Photo: Voodin Blade}