Use of Composite Materials in Wind Turbine Blades: A Comprehensive Review

The increasing demand for sustainable energy has accelerated the development of high-performance wind turbine systems. In this context, material selection for turbine blades plays a critical role in ensuring structural efficiency, fatigue resistance, and long-term reliability. This study evaluates the mechanical and structural advantages of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites over glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) materials in wind turbine blade applications. Results from the literature indicate that CFRP provides significantly higher stiffness-to-weight and strength-to-weight ratios, enabling weight reductions of 20-30% in critical blade components such as spar caps. This reduction improves aeroelastic stability, decreases fatigue loading, and enhances overall energy capture efficiency. Furthermore, CFRP exhibits superior fatigue resistance under cyclic loading conditions exceeding 108 cycles, which is essential for the typical 20-30 years service life of wind turbines. However, the higher cost of CFRP remains a limiting factor, leading to its selective use in load-critical regions. The findings suggest that hybrid material strategies combining GFRP and CFRP offer an optimal balance between cost and performance.