Wind Power's Dirty Secret: The Growing Problem of Turbine Blade Waste

Strategic Insights -

As the world becomes increasingly reliant on renewable energy, the lifecycle of wind turbines is becoming a major concern. The blades, made from a combination of materials including glass fibre, carbon fibre, and wood, are notoriously difficult to recycle and are currently being sent to landfill. With the majority of turbines designed to last between 20 to 25 years, the problem is becoming more pressing as many of the wind farms from the early 2000s are reaching the end of their lifespan. In the UK alone, approximately 600 turbines are due to be decommissioned by 2030, with the number of onshore turbines expected to be even higher.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK is facing a significant problem of wind turbine blade waste, with approximately 600 turbines due to be decommissioned by 2030.
  • The blades, made from a combination of materials including glass fibre, carbon fibre, and wood, are notoriously difficult to recycle and are currently being sent to landfill.
  • Engineers are coming up with solutions to the problem, including the development of fully recyclable blades made by Siemens Gamesa.
  • The new resin used in these blades is dissolvable and can be reused, with the separable materials used to make new products such as bicycle helmets and car dashboards.
  • Other solutions include mechanical recycling, shredding the blades into small pieces and mixing them into construction products, and repurposing, using the blades for playground equipment and bus shelters.
  • A British start-up called Blue Parameters is trying to raise £185,000 to demonstrate the feasibility of recycling a single blade and £3.2 million to build a processing plant in southwest England.

Statistics:

  • 600 turbines in UK waters are due to be decommissioned by 2030, according to the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.
  • 40,000 tonnes of turbine blades will need to be disposed of each year by 2030, equivalent to the household waste produced annually by a city the size of Bristol.
  • The additional cost of the new resin used in the recyclable blades adds just 2% to the total cost of each turbine.
  • 120 turbines have been installed at the Sofia wind farm off the Yorkshire coast with fully recyclable blades.

Sources:

  • Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
  • Siemens Gamesa
  • Blue Parameters
  • RWE Offshore Wind
  • "Wind graveyard where turbines are sent to landfill" by John Gee, The Times, 13 January 2023.