Today 2.5 million tonnes of composite material are in use in the wind energy sector globally. Wind turbine blades are made up of composite materials that allow lighter and longer blades with optimised aerodynamic shape, which boost the performance of wind energy. However, current wind blade composites exhibit relatively short life spans, are problematic to repair and are notoriously difficult to recycle. As we continue to build more wind farms these issues pose a major problem to achieving a truly sustainable European wind energy sector. The EOLIAN project will develop an innovative new smart wind turbine blade, manufactured from an infinitely recyclable circular platform chemistry, with in-mould electronics (recyclable sensors and heating actuators) that detect damage early before it becomes a major issue. EOLIAN is the breakthrough that will make obsolete single-use engineering resins in wind blade manufacture. Our unique blade is made using vitrimers, a new class of polymer combining the performance of thermosets with the processability and logistical benefits of thermoplastics. Vitrimer resins enable circularly recyclable composite structures (1), and the option of post-cure processing provides unprecedented manufacturing flexibility (2), but also repairability (3). These three features will provide a truly sustainable and step-change approach in how wind turbine blades are maintained, re-shaped for new applications and/or recycled in a circular economy. In the project we will validate these performance claims through the manufacture, testing and benchmarking of a smart sensor-assisted vitrimer-based composite 14m prototyped wind blade. Additionally, we will prove circular recyclability through the manufacture of 2nd generation composites with (i) recycled fibers and recycled vitrimer obtained after the chemical recycling by vacuum infusion; (ii) with composite parts produced by SMC (Sheet Mould Compound) following mechanical recycling.

NewWave will contribute to building a circular economy by introducing sustainable raw materials in different manufacturing lines, replacing toxic chemicals and lowering the environmental footprint of the products. The raw materials are obtained from thermochemical fractionation of biomass. This process converts biomass residues by fast pyrolysis into Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oil (FPBO). Subsequently, the FPBO is fractionated -based on chemical functionality- yielding a reactive lignin fraction and a sugar-rich fraction, both being excellent starting materials to produce sustainable, bio-based chemicals & materials. The selected product lines fully exploit the unique chemical functionalities already present in biomass residues and organic waste streams. Moreover, the lines are interlinked, and output from one line will further improve the sustainability of the other. Waste water treatment and water re-use is integral part of the concept. NewWave aims at wood-based products for the construction industry, including Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) to replace steel and concrete as structural components and modified wood to replace tropical hardwood or chemically treated wood for outdoor use. Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) and plywood will be produced for interior usage. Toxic chemicals like formaldehyde and creosote will be replaced by non-toxic, bio-based alternatives. A small building will be constructed with these materials to demonstrate the products and test durability. The bio-based chemicals can also be used as green solvents, antifreeze & coolant and in the bulk & fine chemical industry. The European market potential is enormous (Billion ?/y range). The GHG emission avoidance ranges from 30% to over 90% depending on replacement ratio and end application. The individual manufacturing lines as well as the integrated value chain will be assessed in detail on technical, economic, social and environmental performance to ensure the production is truly sustainable.

The use of isosorbide (IS), a still a low market volume bio-based chemical but with a high Cumulative Annual Growing Rate of 10.9%, in the manufacturing of intermediate building blocks and high volume polymers, such as polycarbonates, has some drawbacks that could be overcome by using isosorbide bis(methyl carbonate) (IBMC), a barely explored IS secondary building block which is proposed to enhance IS value chain. VIPRISCAR main objectives are: 1) To validate at pilot scale in an industrially relevant environment (TRL 5) a sustainable IBMC production process from IS; 2) To show a proof of principle for the added value IBMC brings to the market by demonstrating the usefulness of polymers derived thereof in three high-volume market sectors: industrial coatings, hot-melt adhesives, and biomedicine (antithrombotic-antimicrobial catheters). Results expected are: 1) A validated highly-efficient IBMC production process (TRL 5) able to be up-scaled and produce, under suitable market conditions, IBMC at a similar price to that of current oil-based monomers used in polycarbonates and polyurethanes; 2) at least 1 IBMC-derived coating for automotive and furniture; 3) at least 1 IBMC-derived hot-melt adhesive; 4) 1 antithrombotic-antimicrobial IBMC-derived catheter. Exploitation encompasses patent licensing, collaborative research for further development to high TRLs and direct production-commercialization (industrial partners). The 3-years project is divided in 4 phases consisting of 8 WPs: 1) IBMC manufacturing process improvement to move from the current TRL of 3 (TEC granted patent) to 4 (WP2); 2) IBMC up-scaling to TRL 5 (WP3); 3) Proof of principle of IBMC applications (WP4-Coatings, WP5-Adhesives, WP6-Catheters); 4) Horizontal issues: Management (WP1); techno-economic analysis, LCA, REACH, health-safety, barriers and standards (WP7); market analysis, business models-financial impacts, IPR and exploitation, risk management, communication and dissemination strategy (WP8).

FRACTION aims to provide a competitive lignocellulosic biorefinery concept flexible to adapt and optimise the production process to a wide range of feedstocks, variable market demand and fluctuating economics while overcoming the lignocellulose separation and purification drawbacks. FRACTION proposes the development and scale up of a novel biorefinery scheme for the processing of lignocellulosic feedstocks based on an organosolv fractionation process using gamma valerolactone as green solvent which will allow operating with high biomass loading, mild operation conditions, eliminating separation steps and offering extra feedstock flexibility in the plant. All of this, achieving an outstanding biomass-to-products yield with high-purity streams of lignin and hemicellulose ready to further valorisation into high added value applications, while still maintaining high-grade cellulose as main product. The project will also develop new downstream conversion technologies for the synthesis and validation of novel building blocks such as furfural, maleic acid, succinic acid, 1,5-PDO, ketoses, alkyl lactates and lignin-derived molecules. The project, which covers all the value chain including end-of-life options, shows a strong industrial involvement which ensures successful post-project exploitation, and engages with other relevant stakeholders such as primary producers. Thanks to the results of FRACTION, the bio-based industry sector will have access to a new flexible pretreatment technology which can be optimised for several types of biomass and be adapted towards certain fractions, thus improving the business case for bio-based products and chemicals biorefineries. In addition, the already proven reduction of separation costs and improved environmental performance, will turn the business model from the current on (risky in terms of financial security and capital intense) into a more attractive investment, able to unlock many sustainable supply chains.

New lightweight High-Performance Composite (HPC) materials and efficient sustainable processing technologies will have an enormous environmental and performance benefit in all sectors of application. However, current sustainable HPC application is limited to large sectors due to their limitations in terms of long processing times, high prices and low recyclability. To overcome these limitations, r-LightBioCom propose a paradigm shift in the way HPC are manufactured and recycled, unlocking sustainable-by-design production of lightweight HPC. Therefore, the project will enable new circular value chains towards r-LightBioCom results, contributing to environmental-related EU goals and reducing the HPC waste generation and the use of non-sustainable fossil resources. To this end, a sustainable catalogue of new advanced biobased and recycled HPC materials will be initially developed with inherent recyclability properties (at least 3 new types of bio-resins, 4 new biomass-derived nanofillers and additives, and 3 families of sustainable fibre-based textile products). To reduce current associated manufacturing costs and high energy consumptions and emissions, efficient processing techniques will be developed (2 new fast curing techniques) combined with recycling technologies for the new catalogue of materials to reduce waste generation and induce circularity. A new open method and related tools (Coupled Ecological Optimisation framework) will promote and standardise holistic sustainable HPC design, modelling and systematic optimisation, leading to continuous sustainable catalogue growth and inclusion of new families of biobased, recyclable lightweight HPC at competitive cost. All results will be validated in 3 use cases at automotive, infrastructure and aeronautic industries with specific business cases, contributing to establishing new resilient, sustainable and innovative value chains in the EU HPC industry, promoting a change of paradigm from linear to circular ones.