Help to make end-of-life decisions for wind turbines
Standards and regulation creating a “closed loop supply chain” could help the wind industry better manage questions around recycling and reuse
Sustainability and competitiveness are watchwords of the wind industry in Europe. How turbines and their components are dealt with at the end of their life is key to ensuring both these goals are achieved. Researchers in Germany have created software to help companies choose the most economically intelligent and environmentally friendly end-of-life solutions
The issue: How to deal with wind turbines at the end of their lives and the best ways to recycle blades and reuse their composites are key questions for the industry
The solution: A German company has created software to help turbine operators answer questions about repowering, decommissioning and recycling. They are also working on national standards to ensure end-of-life solutions are sustainable. WindEurope, an industry association, is focusing on end-of-life issues and recycling through task forces and events
The quote: "Rather than having different national solutions, we would prefer to see a more harmonised approach with the same guidelines and best practice shared across the EU.”
In 2021, a 20-year feed-in tariff scheme under the German Renewable Energy Sources Act will end for about 4500 wind turbines and subsidies for another 7500 turbines will be withdrawn by late 2025, raising questions about repowering, decommissioning and recycling. This forthcoming change inspired Jan-Hendrik Piel, co-founder of German start-up Nefino and researcher at the University of Hannover, and his team to focus their minds on how wind operators can find the best economic and environmental end-of-life solutions. ...
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