Composites in Renewable Energy

Composites can be made from any material, which provides a huge field of application for manufacturing renewable composites solely through the use of renewable fibers and matrices.
In recent years, natural fiber-based composites have been used in a range of industries where they are natural and readily available sustainable materials. In addition, they tend to be low cost, lightweight, renewable and often biodegradable, all of which has led to their increasing use in various manufacturing sectors.

Renewable Composites Applications
Renewable composites can be used in industries ranging from renewable energy to mainstream power, construction, engineering and aerospace industries. The market for renewable composites is growing, especially with the increasing demand for low carbon alternatives.
The energy sector remains a key growth market area and renewable composites have long been used in a variety of applications, including offshore and onshore oil and gas drilling pipelines and wind turbine blades.
Renewable composites can be used in a wide range of medium- to high-strength components, covering everything from automobiles to cell phones, false ceilings to furniture, toys, airplanes, ships and more!

Advantages of Renewable Composites
Compared to traditional composites or materials, renewable composites (e.g., composites using carbon fiber reinforcement) are able to use fewer fibers and resins to produce the same products, such as wind turbine blades. Carbon fiber reinforced renewable composites can also increase the stiffness of the blade, which improves aerodynamic performance while reducing the loads imposed by the blade on the wind turbine tower and hub.
In addition, renewable composites are typically less expensive, lighter in weight, more acoustically efficient and more flexible.

Challenges and limitations of renewable composites
As with any new or emerging product, there are some issues with renewable composites.
The main issues include the effects of moisture and humidity, strength reliability and improved fire resistance. There are also issues with the quality and consistency of natural fibers, fogging, odor emission and processing temperature limitations.
However, innovation is an ongoing process and we are pleased with all the developments to date, which have resulted in significant progress and more to come. We always strive for perfection.

The future of renewable composites
The future of renewable composites covers a wide range of applications, from the automotive and aerospace industries to renewable wind energy, electrical applications, sporting goods, civil engineering and construction, the pharmaceutical and chemical industries and much more.
Renewable composites have unlimited engineering applications that require strength-to-weight ratios, low cost, and ease of manufacture.

The Role of Composites in Renewable Energy
Due to their adaptability, composites have a huge potential role in the field of renewable energy. Climate change is arguably the biggest challenge facing our planet, so the use of renewable composites in renewable energy has never been more important.
Composites are already well known in the wind energy industry as the use of carbon fiber reduces the weight of the turbine blades, which means that the blades can be made longer, thus increasing the power output and efficiency of the wind turbine itself.
Additionally, composites can be used to improve conductors as they are able to carry roughly twice as much current as steel core conductors at lower operating temperatures.
Renewable composite cores also have a higher strength-to-weight ratio, which allows more aluminum to be used in the cable to transmit power without increasing the weight of the cable.

Renewable Composites
Renewable composites are typically classified by fiber type, application and geography. Fiber types include fiber-reinforced polymers, carbon fiber-reinforced polymers, glass-reinforced plastics, and others.
The value and use of composites in the renewable energy market is expected to grow faster than the forecast period. This is mainly due to the growing global demand for renewable energy sources such as wind turbine blades.
Conclusion
As the planet faces a recognized climate emergency, it has never been more important to focus on the impact of manufacturing. Renewable composites have a huge role to play in changing the way we work, improving our renewable energy sources and reducing our impact on the planet.