About the Project

Important: This project is fully funded for Home/UK students only. We welcome applications from international candidates, but please be aware that a successful international candidate would be responsible for covering the difference between the international and Home/RUK tuition fee rates (approximately £22,000 per annum). International candidates must provide evidence that they have these funds available.

Background

The rapid deployment of wind energy is central to achieving net-zero targets, but it is creating an emerging end-of-life materials challenge. Wind turbine blades are commonly manufactured from glass- or carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer composites, often based on thermoset resins that are difficult to remelt, reshape or recycle. As early generations of wind farms reach decommissioning, increasing volumes of blade waste are expected, with landfill and low-value disposal routes undermining the sustainability credentials of renewable energy infrastructure. Recycling wind turbine blades requires more than waste management. It demands integrated circular-economy strategies capable of recovering fibre reinforcement, valorising resin-rich fractions and enabling second-life material applications. Existing methods have key limitations. For example, mechanical recycling often downcycles composites into low-value fillers, pyrolysis may degrade fibre strength and produce low-value products, and chemical recycling can require costly solvents or harsh conditions.

Project summary

This PhD project will develop a staged hybrid recycling strategy for end-of-life wind turbine blades by combining pre-treatment, catalytic thermochemical conversion and fibre regeneration. The aim is to maximise material recovery, preserve fibre quality and convert resin-rich fractions into useful gases, liquids or chemical intermediates. The project will begin with detailed characterisation of wind blade composite waste to understand resin chemistry, fibre type, fillers, thermal behaviour and resin-fibre interactions. Laboratory-scale catalytic pyrolysis and related thermochemical processes will then be investigated using fixed-bed reactor systems to improve resin decomposition, reduce char formation and enhance product selectivity. Recovered fibres will be cleaned, surface-treated and assessed for reuse in second-life composite materials.

Training

The student will receive interdisciplinary training in sustainable materials, catalytic recycling, thermochemical conversion, composite characterisation and circular economy assessment. Practical training will include fixed-bed reactor operation, catalyst testing, thermogravimetric analysis, gas chromatography, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and mechanical testing. The student will also gain experience in life-cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis to compare the proposed route with existing end-of-life options. This project is ideal for a motivated student interested in sustainable engineering, renewable energy infrastructure, catalysis and circular materials. The research will generate new academic knowledge while supporting industrial strategies to reduce landfill dependence, lower carbon impacts and improve the sustainability of renewable energy infrastructure across its full life cycle.

The student will join a vibrant multidisciplinary team based at the University of Aberdeen’s National Decommissioning Centre (NDC), working alongside a cohort of PhD students, postdoctoral fellows and world leading academic supervisors. Students will also benefit from access to a network of industry expertise, ongoing research projects, and advanced facilities and infrastructure.

Candidate Background

Candidates should hold, or expect to obtain, a first-class or upper second-class degree (or international equivalent) in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Energy Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, or a related discipline. A Master’s degree in a relevant area is desirable but not essential.

A strong motivation to contribute to sustainable offshore energy transition and decommissioning research is essential.

The candidate should have knowledge or experience in thermochemical conversion, catalysis, composite materials, waste recycling, renewable energy systems, or circular economy technologies. Experience with laboratory-based experimental research, particularly involving reactors, thermal analysis, materials characterisation, or analytical techniques such as TGA, GC, SEM, or XRD, would be advantageous.

The ideal applicant should demonstrate:

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Interest in sustainable engineering and net-zero technologies
Ability to conduct independent experimental research
Good written and verbal communication skills
Motivation to work in an interdisciplinary research environment involving materials, catalysis, decommissioning and circular economy research

Experience with life-cycle assessment (LCA), techno-economic analysis (TEA), composite recycling, or thermochemical processing is desirable but not essential, as full training will be provided during the PhD.

We actively encourage applications from diverse career paths and backgrounds and across all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status, amongst other protected characteristics.

Informal enquiries are encouraged. For further information please contact Dr Yeshui Zhang (yeshui.zhang@abdn.ac.uk).