Archery Center project at Łubieńska street in Poznań. Reuse of wind turbine blades
The most problematic elements of wind turbines in the context of recycling are wind blades due to the materials they are made of. One of the solutions for the post-consumer development of wind turbine blades is their reuse in the architectural and construction industry, which at the same time contributes to extending the life cycle of the blades.
The concept concerns ideas for reuse of decommissioned blades in the architectural archery center design in Poznań, Poland.
Local
Poland
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It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
The project concerns the design of the archery center with secondary physical activities (eg. dance hall, acrobatic hall, gym) for the location at Łubieńska street in Poznań, Poland.
The aim was to propose a facility that would encourage people to visit the currently less frequented area. Designing a space dedicated to archery is a response to the need of local archery clubs. In addition, the study is related to the issue of decommissioned wind blades. The concept presents ideas for reuse of decommissioned blades in the archery center project.
Wind farms are one of the elements of sustainable energy development. In Poland, mainly on-shore power plants are built. The most problematic element of wind turbines in the context of recycling are wind blades due to the materials they are made of.
The development of wind energy in Poland since the 1990s will lead to the need for waste management of wind turbine blades in the near future.
One of the solutions for the waste management of wind turbine blades is their reuse in the architectural and construction industry, which at the same time contributes to extending the life cycle of the blades.
The use of wind blades made it possible to replace with this material an estimated 331 m3 of reinforced concrete and 42.5 m3 of architectural, GFRC and cellular concrete.
reuse
upcycling
wind blades
sport & recreation
archery
First of all, the concept introduces elements made of decommissioned wind blades, which were given new purposes. One form of recycling was used – upcycling. The idea of reusing blades in the project is not only environmentally friendly, but has an educational aspect as well. The use of wind blades is the answer to the upcoming need in countries where old turbines are or will be decommissioned. Such blades are made from materials that are currently problematic to recycle. Upcycling in architecture is a solution proposed in the concept that contributes to extending the life cycle of blades and favors a circular economy.
The design includes green roofs and a rain garden.
Designing a facility dedicated to archery is a response to the needs of local archery clubs. Other sports functions were proposed so that people practicing different disciplines can meet in one place. The introduction of sports and recreation functions in the area could increase the value of the area that is currently not often visited.
The entire sports and recreation complex would be available to everyone. Architectural barriers were eliminated in the design. The development of the area would be conducive to the organization of not only sports events, but also other social initiatives.
At the end of the axis from the main entrance through the corridor to the opposite side of the building, a rain garden was located. The aim is to draw attention to ecological aspects with the first step taken into the building. In this case, the architecture and landscaped area gain the character of integration with the needs arising from nature. The controlled presence of water and hydrophilic greenery are human-friendly elements.
Recreational facilities and playgrounds were designed in the fresh air to be used for games and fun. These spaces are intended to be open to the public. The arrangement of the area also enables performances and other events to be organized.
Poznań lacks a place dedicated to archery. Proposing such a function would support local archery clubs and encourage others to do this sport. This place would be available to athletes from outside the city, eg. to organize competitions. Other functions such as a dance hall and an acrobatic hall were also designed in the buildings. The complex would therefore be a place where people practicing different sports would meet and organize sports events together.
The site is surrounded by undeveloped land. This area is not often visited. There is an attractive green forest nearby. Next to it, there is an old fort that is currently unused. Introducing new functions in this neighborhood would bring this urban fabric to life – that's what the concept is about.
Elements such as wind blades are rare in urban architecture. Especially when they do not fulfill their typical functions. For the observer, the blades exposed in the structure of buildings can be quite a puzzle, arouse controversy, lead to questions "why" and "how". The concept is to teach about the answers to these questions. To evoke positive emotions about architecture and the fact that it is able to find solutions for other fields. The archery center could be a reference object that people would also visit out of curiosity.
It is intended that the surrounding of the designed buildings is to remain open to the public. In the design area, there is a place for an open outdoor gym, climbing walls and other recreational facilities that anyone can use free of charge.
The buildings are devoid of architectural barriers. A designed footbridge, which plays an important role of a ramp for people with disabilities, is a characteristic element of the entire design assumption. The entire complex can be used by the youngest and older users.
Each hall, presenting a different sports function, varies in its external appearance so that the facility can be easily identified.
Services such as a restaurant, hotel rooms and conference rooms for rent are located in the separate building in the front side of the whole complex. Therefore, it would be possible to organize occasional events by external clients, which could bring a large financial profit for the entire project, due to the high demand for such services. The introduction of the proposed functions would also create new workplaces.
The arrangement of the outdoor area makes it possible to organize performances and events in which everyone could participate. Providing such a place in the city supports social initiatives.
The aim of the work was to propose a facility that would encourage to visit the currently less frequented area. It would complement the urban fabric in an undeveloped area. Designing a space dedicated to archery is a response to the need of local archery clubs. The recreational and sports facilities could also attract visitors from outside the city.
The most important social aspect, which is directly related to the use of decommissioned wind blades in the project, is the increase in public awareness. The introduction of elements originally derived from wind turbines shows that this is a material that is suitable for reuse. The presentation of many possibilities of its implementation in architecture shows the potential for its wide range of applications. Exposed fragments of wind blades draw the public's attention to the issues of recycling (mainly upcycling), waste management, and circular economy.
The functional program for the designed objects includes among others: archery center (indoor hall and open range). This results from the lack of a dedicated space in Poznań for this sports discipline. The archery center could be used by various sports clubs and associations, offering them a space adapted to practicing this sport. In addition, the center would be a place for organizing sports events, sports camps and summer camps, club meetings, and other special events.
The intention of the concept is to draw attention to the global environmental problem and to show one of possible solutions. The average lifespan a wind blade used to be designed typically for 20 to 30 years. A renewable energy technical facility may be decommissioned for various reasons. It is estimated that by 2050 waste from wind turbines in the world will amount to approx. 40 million tons. As the recycling of old wind blades is problematic, unfortunately the most common method of post-consumer development is landfilling. Calls to ban the storage of old wind turbines in landfills by 2025 are addressed to countries by organizations promoting RES (Renewable Energy Sources). Actions called repowering are beginning in the world. Old wind farms, mass-produced in the 1990s, need to be replaced with new ones and old turbines will be dismantled and taken out of service. This is not only a local problem, but its range would be European soon. The need for post-consumer development of wind turbine blades will particularly appear in the near future in countries with old types of wind turbines. This also applies to Poland. Generally although wind blades cannot be used no longer according to their originally designed purpose, they can still be usable within other fields. This is what the concept concerns - it shows a possible solution, from local to European level.
To create the concept, it was necessary to gather knowledge from several fields.
The need for archery facilities in Poznań came from a person who trains. Getting to know the rules and regulations related to archery and archery facilities was the basis for the proper functional design. Studying reference architectural designs also helped. As a result, the first design and functional guidelines appeared. The opinions and suggestions of people who are directly related to archery were very helpful as well. It was necessary to design the space as user-friendly as possible, taking into account other proposed sports and recreation functions. Here, the knowledge of recreational architecture and hall structures were needed.
Tracking the development of wind energy and analyzing basic information about wind turbines was necessary for further considerations. They led to questions about the element of the wind turbine, which is the wind blade. In the era of today's pursuit of recycling - the life cycle of such a blade seemed to be an interesting topic.
Studying the development of wind energy in Poland, locating the oldest wind farms and determining the number and types of blades that were used - this was the stage of research. As a result, it was possible to draw conclusions that Poland (as one among other countries) will soon take decisions related to the waste management of wind blades.
In getting to know wind blades, materials they were made of, the methods of processing and the first ideas related to their upcycling, an
arranged meeting with a company that operates in this field was very helpful.
Combining all the knowledge about social needs, recreational architecture, structural engineering, wind blades, it was possible to develop the concept.
The concept is related to the issue of decommissioned wind blades. The impending need for waste management of old wind blades enforces the improvement of methods. The most common and easiest method is landfilling. With no doubt it is not an eco-friendly solution. More and more manufacturers are declaring that they will introduce blades to the market that would have extented "lifetime" and the recycling would be much more possible. When it comes to existing blades, there are ideas for processing them into a raw material for cement production, into granules and boards. There are hopes for the use of blades in construction of transmission towers, noise barriers on highways, for concrete reinforcement. One of the solutions indicates the use of blades in road construction as slope reinforcement. Others propose the use of long raw fibers for reinforcing elements of building structures, or suggest chopped fibers to be combined with resins or used as inputs for thermoplastic and sealing materials. As a result of combining wind blades material with resins and chipped wood, wood-like tiles and beams were created. Other research allowed to obtain a durable material that could be used in construction, e.g. as slabs for laying ceilings, by combining crushed polyester-glass fibers with concrete. In addition, solutions such as the construction of bridges made of blades or elements of street furniture are coming into use.
The concept though focuses on highlighting the use of decommissioned wind blades in the design of the whole architectural complex. The elements made of wind blades appear inside, outside and within the space between the buildings. These elements are: retaining wall, pots for greenery, footbridge supports with and without space for greenery, movable and fixed brise soleil, roof girders, green wall construction, partition wall, climbing wall, seats, rainwater tanks.
The concept introduces elements that are designed as made of decommissioned wind blades. The technology of dismantling a wind blade and preparing it for further processing can be similar everywhere. The blade can be pre-cut into smaller fragments at the place of disassembly from the windmill, depending on its future purpose and transport possibilities. Safety measures (e.g. dust protection) should be observed when cutting. Then, depending on the purpose for the blade, it may be subjected to tests (e.g. strength tests), or in the place of its further processing, precise cutting, grinding, finishing works etc. may be performed.
Each of the elements presented in the project has been thought out as modules obtained as a result of appropriate cutting the blade across or along. Dimensions and characteristics of the element depend on the type of a wind blade that would be reused. However, each element intended to perform a structural function should be designed by the constructor, and strength tests are recommended beforehand. This is due to the fact that decommissioned wind blades may lose their characteristics uncontrollably during the primary operation process.
Reusing wind blades and highlighting them in architecture design shows the potential of both architecture and wind blades themselves. The concept of the archery center design has a strong educational aspect. The architectural and structural elements made of wind blades, blended into the buildings and the surrounding provoke observers and space users to think of recykling, product life-cycle and the role of architecture in this modern world. This lesson can come from any place where these kind of elements, presented in this concept, would become a part of architecture.
The world talks openly about the climate, and thus also the health and economic, challenges. Poland and other countries, where the energy sector consists mainly of hard coal and lignite-fired power plants, make attempts to introduce a different energy sector model. According to current presumptions, it is to be based on self-sufficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. Part of the reconstruction of the economy are public investments, which are supposed to be integrally related to the environmental protection.
Wind energy is one of the most popular forms of combating the climate crisis. The vast majority of installations are onshore installations. In terms of renewable energy, it is worth noting that not only the method of producing the product (here electricity) is to be ecological, but also the production of the device, its transport, use and disposal or recycling. This last mentioned stage seems to be the biggest problem in the wind energy industry at the moment. However, it is the difficulty of processing the blades that prevents complete recycling. Their disposal (including pyrolysis, grinding) is an energy-intensive and expensive process. The combustion of blades can produce hazardous by-products, and approximately 60% of the material after combustion remains as scrap. The cheapest and at the same time controversial way is to store used blades in landfills. Technologies, forms and methods of disposal or recycling are now a problem and the solutions must be found relatively quickly. Considering all types of destructiveness, post-consumer development, which does not require combustion without energy recovery or landfilling, is the most advantageous solution. This local solution is presented in the architectural concept design of the archery center- where decommissioned wind blades were used to fulfill new given functions.
