Taichung university, Swancor turn wind turbine blades into badminton rackets

台中大學和上緯投控將風力渦輪機葉片改造成羽球拍

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — National Chung Hsing University has partnered with Swancor Holding Co. on a circular economy initiative that repurposes materials from decommissioned wind turbine blades into badminton rackets.

Most retired wind turbine blades have been incinerated or sent to landfills, creating environmental issues and wasting carbon-fiber materials. However, recycling them remains challenging because the blades are made of extremely tough composite structures, per CNA.

The company said its new microwave pyrolysis technology, a process that breaks down materials with high heat, can precisely handle the carbon-fiber materials inside wind turbine blades. Compared with traditional heating methods, the technology simplifies the recycling process, speeds up treatment and significantly lowers energy use.

Swancor worked with the university’s Academy of Circular Economy to create rackets using recycled carbon fiber and a new thermoplastic composite technology. The rackets produce much lower carbon emissions, and the entire racket can also be recycled.

Professor Shen Ming-yuan (沈銘原) from the academy said traditional badminton rackets are typically made from carbon fiber and epoxy resin, which makes them strong and lightweight but difficult to recycle.

At a press conference on Tuesday, the university showcased recycled carbon fiber and badminton rackets made from the material. Swancor President Tsai Hsiao-te (蔡孝德) donated 100 rackets to the school during the event.

Shen said the university will continue working with the company to use recycled carbon fiber combined with injection molding technology to produce bicycle parts, car rims and laptop casings. He added that one tonne of discarded turbine blades can produce 500 kg of carbon fiber — enough to make up to 9,500 badminton rackets.