European energy company Vattenfall commits to recycling wind turbine blades as part of an initiative to reduce long-term environmental impact as wind power growth accelerates across the country. Europe. One of the emerging issues for the wind industry is the disposal of blades which have a lifecycle of around 20 years but which are made of complex composite materials.

Vattenfall currently has around 50 onshore and offshore wind farms in operation in five countries, producing around a third of the company’s energy supply. In addition, they are building the largest offshore wind farm in Denmark and Scandinavia as well as the largest onshore wind farm in Sweden. The company expects wind power to continue to occupy an increasing place in its operations and more broadly in Europe and globally.

As part of an effort to reduce environmental impacts and manage all resources responsibly, Vattenfall has announced an immediate commitment to a landfill ban on decommissioned wind turbine blades. In addition, the company commits to reuse, recover or recycle 50% of wind turbine blades by 2025 and 100% by 2030.

“It is no longer acceptable for composite waste from the wind industry to be placed in landfills, even if specific country legislation allows it,” said Eva Philipp, Head of the Wind Environment and Sustainability Division. “Reaching 50% recycling by 2025 and 100% by 2030 is a big challenge. Solutions to address this challenge do not exist on a large scale today, so significant effort is needed to achieve this long-term goal. We will participate in and provide blades for research initiatives that will foster technological innovation and the testing of more advanced recycling technologies.

Vattenfall, along with others, supports research into the recycling of composite materials and encourages the use of recycled composite materials in new products. In addition, there will be a long-term approach focusing on all aspects of the circular economy, such as supporting the recyclability of wind turbine blades by design and thus increasing the value of the recycled material at the end of its life. .

“Achieving 100% recycling is a joint effort and all stakeholders must work together. In this Vattenfall wants to contribute significantly. As the wind industry continues to grow to provide fossil-free energy across the world, Vattenfall is committed to promoting a circular economy that reduces environmental impacts throughout the product lifecycle, ”said? Helene Biström, Head of the Wind? Business unit.

The ability to fully recycle wind turbine blades depends on factors such as technical development, policy support, and government incentives. To push the company towards a sustainable end-of-life solution for wind turbine blades, Vattenfall will continue to increase its engagement in cross-sector discussions at national and European level.

Vattenfall’s announcement follows a similar announcement from Orsted, which also announced in June that it would no longer be sending worn or damaged blades to landfills. The company is also working on techniques for recycling, reusing or recovering composite materials from blades. They are committed to stocking all blades until the technology is developed to reuse the components.