Chemical recycling and life cycle assessment of next-generation thermoplastic composites for wind turbine blade manufacture

This PhD scholarship is offered by the EPSRC CDT in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience, a partnership between the Universities of Durham, Hull, Loughborough and Sheffield. The successful applicant will undertake six months of training with the rest of the CDT cohort at the University of Hull before continuing their PhD research at Loughborough University. A major sustainability challenge in the wind energy sector lies in managing the end-of-life of turbine blades. This doctoral studentship, jointly supported by the EPSRC CDT in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience and Metol, will advance circular solutions for the next generation of turbine materials. The project will explore chemical recycling of thermoplastic materials through solvolysis, aiming to establish an efficient recovery route and quantify its environmental benefits. The student will characterise recovered polymer and fibre fractions using advanced analytical techniques and re-manufacture them into new composite laminates. A full life cycle assessment will be conducted to compare solvolytic recycling with conventional disposal and mechanical recycling pathways. The outcomes will provide crucial data on energy use, carbon footprint, and circularity metrics, guiding future blade design and material selection. This studentship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a sustainable, closed-loop future for offshore wind energy, integrating materials science, chemical engineering, and environmental assessment to deliver tangible industrial and environmental impact.