Wind Turbine Composite Materials Market Overview

The Wind Turbine Composite Materials Market size is forecast to reach US$18.9 billion by 2026, after growing at a CAGR of 10.3% during 2021-2026. Composite materials help in the development of lightweight components with superior properties and also improve product life. Composite materials are used in the development of structural parts of wind turbines, such as turbine blade, rotors, nacelles, wind propeller, among others. The increasing installation of wind turbines across the globe is driving the market for composite materials. The government across the globe is also investing huge amounts in alternative energy sources such as solar and wind which is further supporting the market growth for composite materials. The increasing focus of governments on offshore wind energy installations is driving the market growth between 2021-2026. However, the high cost of carbon fiber and epoxy resin and recyclability issue of composites will likely hamper the market growth during the forecast period.

COVID-19 Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the composite materials industry which has further impacted the wind turbine market. Due to the Covid-19, the manufacturing industry is impacted very badly that further impacted the wind turbine composite materials market. The slowdown in wind turbine installations and lack of raw material supplies, and workforce are impacting the market negatively. The covid-19 impacted every operation such as supply chain, production, sales, and others. However, the companies resumed their operation in 2021, which may positively impact the market.

Report Coverage

The report: “Wind Turbine Composite Materials Market – Forecast (2021-2026)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the Wind Turbine Composite Materials industry.
By Fiber Type: Glass Fiber, Carbon Fiber, Aramid Fiber, and Basalt fiber
By Resin Type: Thermoplastic [Polyethylene, Polystyrene, Polyamides, Nylon, Polypropylene, Others], and Thermoset [Epoxy, Polyester, Phenolic Polyamide, and Others]
By Technology: Injection Molding, Compression Molding, Pultrusion, Filament Winding, and Layup
By Application: Blades, Wind turbine Hub, Rotor, Tower, Nacelle, Cables, Blade Pitch Controller, Propellers, and Others
By Geography: North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (UK, Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Denmark, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia & New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Rest of APAC), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Rest of South America), and Rest of the World (the Middle East and Africa)

Key Takeaways

• The Asia Pacific region is expected to dominate the market and register the highest CAGR of 12.8% during the forecast period (2021-2026). The presence of leading chemical companies along with rapid growth in the personal care industry is propelling regional growth.
• Epoxy resin is one of the widely used resins in wind turbine manufacturing. The segment is expected to register a high growth rate during the forecast period.
• The growing installation of wind turbines in developing countries such as Brazil, Mexico, India, and China is creating a positive impact on the usage of wind turbine composite materials.

Figure: Asia Wind Turbine Composite Materials Market Revenue, 2020-2026 (US$ Billion)

Wind Turbine Composite Materials Market Segment Analysis: By Fiber Type

The glass fiber reinforced plastics segment accounted for the largest share of more than 55% in the wind turbine composite materials market in 2020 and is estimated to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period. Glass fiber offers various properties including high strength, high durability, weather-resistant, and lightweight have boosted its demand in numerous end-use industries. The easy availability and cost-effectiveness of glass fiber reinforced plastics are the key factors propelling the demand for glass fiber composites in wind turbine manufacturing. The carbon fiber segment will register a significant growth rate during the forecast period. Carbon fibers offer various properties such as low thermal expansion, high stiffness, high-temperature tolerance, and high chemical resistance among others.

Wind Turbine Composite Materials Market Segment Analysis: By Resin Type

The thermoset segment accounted for the largest share of more than 70% in the Wind turbine composite materials market in 2020 and is estimated to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period. Thermoset composite is usually based on carbon, glass, and aramid fibers.  Epoxy resin is the widely used thermoset type in wind turbine composite materials. Approximately 50% of European wind blades are manufactured from epoxy resin. These resins offer lightweight, and good adhesion compared to other resin types. Generally, they are combined with glass fibers and carbon fibers to manufacture wind blades. The thermoplastic segment is expected to register a significant growth rate during the forecast period. Thermoplastics are less expensive compared to thermoset resin types. They are easily weld-able, non-toxic in nature, and recyclable. These are some of the driving factors supporting the market growth between 2021-2026.

Wind Turbine Composite Materials Market Segment Analysis: By Technology

The Layup segment accounted for the largest share of more than 33% in the wind turbine composite materials market in 2020 and is estimated to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period. Layup is the most common method used for the production of composites. The method is involved in placing layers of composite fiber in a structured order by using a matrix of resin and hardener. This method is widely used for the production of wind blades.

Wind Turbine Composite Materials Market Segment Analysis: By Application

The blades segment accounted for the largest market share of more than 55% of the market in 2020 and is estimated to grow significantly during the forecast period. Turbine blades serve as the most important composite-based part of wind turbines. The growing demand for wind energy is driving manufacturers to develop large wind blades for the high production of wind energy. For the development of large blades, a huge quantity of composite materials is used. Glass fibers and carbon fibers are used for the manufacturing of wind blades.

Wind Turbine Composite Materials Market Segment Analysis - By Geography

The Asia Pacific region held the largest share of more than 45% in the Wind Turbine Composite Materials market in 2020, owing to the rapid growth in the installation of wind turbines. The presence of developing nations such as China and India is driving the market growth. The presence of leading wind turbine manufacturers including Suzlon Energy Limited, and AVIC Huiteng Windpower Equipment Co., Ltd are supporting the region's growth during the forecast period. The increasing investments by key developers for manufacturing efficient wind turbines are also boosting the market growth during the forecast period. According to the data published by Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), China installed about 52 gigawatts of new wind power capacity in 2020.

Wind Turbine Composite Materials Market Drivers

Rising Demand for Renewable Energy Sources

Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing renewable energies globally. Wind power is a clean energy source, and its usage is on the rise worldwide. The U.S. wind energy occupies approximately 38% of total renewable energy produced in 2019. According to the IRENA's data, wind energy generation is increased from 7.5GW in 1997 to 564GW by 2018. Some ongoing and under-construction wind projects in the U.S. include Traverse Wind Energy Center, Aviator Wind Project, Goodnight Wind Energy Project, Alle-Catt Wind Farm, and Vineyard Wind I among others. According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), India has the fourth-highest wind installed capacity in the world with a total installed capacity of 39.25 GW (as of 31st March 2021) and has generated around 60.149 billion Units during 2020-2021. According to the European Commission, the total installed wind energy capacity in Europe reached 210GW and is estimated to reach 350GW, supplying up to 24% of electricity demand

Wind Turbine Composite Materials Market Challenges

Recyclability Issue of Composites

Composite materials are preferred for wind applications because of their durability and superior strength. Proper waste disposal and recycling at the end of the useful life of composite materials are necessary. Many current and future waste management and environmental legislation are making strict regulations on engineering materials to be properly recovered and recycled. The complex material compositions and the cross-linked nature of thermoset resins are making it difficult for recyclability. However, the use of polymers that can be recycled when used with carbon and other niche fibers reduces the composite non-recyclable. This has become a major issue as the landfills are filling up at a faster pace along with the need for going green due to global warming. Biological attack on composite materials may consist of fungal growth or marine fouling

Wind Turbine Composite Materials Market Landscape

Technology launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the Wind Turbine Composite Materials market. Major players include:

• TPI Composites, Inc.
• MFG Wind
• LM Wind Power
• Gamesa Corporation Technology
• Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Suzlon Energy Limited
• Siemens AG
• AVIC Huiteng Windpower Equipment Co., Ltd.
• AREVA and others.

Acquisitions/Technology Launches

In May 2021, Hexcel launched a range of HexPly® surface finishing prepregs and semi- prepregs for wind turbine blades and automotive and marine applications.

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