Researchers at Michigan State University have created a new composite resin for wind turbine blades that allows them to be recycled into a variety of new items, including sweets.
Next time you drive past your local wind farm, you may be looking at a future bag of gummy bears. Yes, really.
Michigan State University has developed a composite resin using glass fibres combined with both plant-derived and synthetic polymers. This could be used to create wind turbine blades that can later be broken down and recycled to make new products.
Humorous gummy bear recycling aside, wind turbines can cause problems when being disposed of. Theyβre often upwards of 50 metres long and are most commonly thrown into landfill. Considering that wind power is one of the most popular forms of renewable energy in the UK, we need a way to responsibly discard our blades.
How do we end up eating wind turbines, though? It seems like something out of a Roald Dahl book.
This newly created resin is digested in an alkaline solution, which produces potassium lactate that is then purified. Food-grade potassium lactate can be repurposed into sweets and sports drinks.
John Dorgan, an author on the paper that created the resin, said they turned the lactate into gummy bear candies. βWhich I ateβ, he was keen to add.
You can do more than just consume the stuff, too. The alkaline digestion also releases poly(methyl methacrylate), or PMMA, which is commonly used in windows and car taillights.
Still unconvinced? Canβt picture yourself wolfing down a fresh turbine from the fields of Devon? Dorgan is here to ease you worries.
βA carbon atom derived from a plant, like corn or grass, is no different from a carbon atom that came from a fossil fuel. Itβs all part of the global carbon cycle. Weβve shown that we can go from biomass in the field to durable plastic materials and back to foodstuffs.β
βOur resin system [β¦] releases from whatever matrix itβs in so that it can be used over and over in an infinite loop. Thatβs the goal of a circular economy.β
Blades using this new resin are hoped to be put into field testing some time soon. Gummy bears built from your local wind farm could well be our reality in the not-so-distant future. Eat your heart out, Haribo.
Iβm Charlie (He/Him), a Senior Remote Writer at Thred. I was previously the Editor at Thred before moving to Bristol in 2024. As a music and gaming enthusiast, Iβm a nerd for pop culture. You can find me curating playlists, designing article headline images, and sipping cider on a Thursday. Follow me on LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
Africa's creative wave is the strongest it's ever been, and the world is paying attention.
As the pandemic ended, a global appetite for rawness and newness emerged, and Africa's artistic expressions are breaking away from the tired stereotypes to tell a different story, from the nightclubs of Lagos to the fashion houses of Paris, and everyhere in between.
African music, fashion, and art are coming into their own, changing the global...
James Gunnβs highly anticipated Superman film has not only revived the iconic hero but also ignited a political firestorm, particularly among right-wing Americans.
The debut of the new Superman film last week sparked global excitement, with many reconnecting with their sense of childhood wonder. This did not go without a major debate about who envisioned Superman the best, Zack Snyder or James Gunn.
Admittedly, each director brought a unique creative approach...
More celebrities are facing the public consequences for their morally deplorable actions, dispelling the culture of idolatry that presents famous people as a moral guide. However, a culture of racism and misogyny is still allowing culpable white men to evade the consequences of their actions.
Earlier this month, hip-hop artist Sean βDiddyβ Combs was convicted on βtwo counts of transportation for prostitutionβ
As Combsβ prosecution shows, fame doesnβt always protect...
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.