HELSINKI (News release) -- Stora Enso and Voodin Blade Technology GmbH have signed a partnership agreement to develop sustainable wind turbine blades from wood. Under the agreement, the two companies are committed to developing sustainable alternatives for wind turbine blades and creating a competitive and reliable supply chain. They are currently producing and installing a 20 m blade for a 0.5 MW turbine and have plans for an 80 m blade.

Wind power blades are typically produced with fibreglass and carbon fibre, energy-intensive non- renewable plastics made from petrochemicals that cannot be easily recycled. Tens of thousands of ageing blades today end up in landfills. By developing blades with sustainable wood, Stora Enso and Voodin Blades can make the blades lighter and reduce the overall dependency on fossil fuel extraction.

Stora Enso is providing 100% sustainable wood for the new blades. The first 20 m blade will be developed using Stora Enso's LVL, a mass timber product that has a high load-bearing capacity that easily supports largescale rotary blades. Unlike steel and concrete, LVL is relatively lightweight to transport on-site without heavy-duty equipment. Furthermore, LVL is a renewable material with a minimal carbon footprint. The 20 m blade will be installed on a 0.5-megawatt turbine near Warburg, Germany by the end of 2022.

Voodin Blades is a German-based start-up company developing sustainable rotor blades for wind turbines.

Stora Enso is a leading global supplier of mass timber products, including LVL (laminated veneer lumber), a construction material suitable for wind power construction.