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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Sign in to save

Maintenance of Wind Turbine Blades and Microplastic Emission: How to Mitigate Environmental Risks

Wind Energy 2025 Score: 38 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Leon Mishnaevsky Leon Mishnaevsky Leon Mishnaevsky Leon Mishnaevsky Leon Mishnaevsky Leon Mishnaevsky

Summary

Researchers found that maintenance and repair operations on aging wind turbine blades — including grinding and joining — release plastic particles that qualify as microplastics, identifying wind energy infrastructure as an underrecognized source of environmental microplastic emissions.

ABSTRACT With the expansion of wind energy, and also the aging of the wind turbines, the need for maintenance and repair of wind turbine blades increases. The maintenance and repair of wind turbine blades include grinding and joining parts and can lead to emission of plastic particles, which (for the case of offshore wind turbines) can also be emitted into sea, leading to pollution risks. In this article, the volume of plastic pollution during the blade maintenance as well as particle size distribution is evaluated. Recommendations toward the mitigation of environmental risks due to maintenance and repair of blades are formulated.

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