Recyclable blades in Hollandse Kust Zuid
The offshore wind farm Hollandse Kust Zuid in the Netherlands uses Siemens Gamesa’s RecyclableBlades, which are designed for recycling.
Wind turbine blades are difficult to recycle due to the resin used in their construction, which requires high temperatures and pressures to break down.
This process is energy-intensive and degrades the material properties, making recycling more complicated.
Vattenfall used three sets of Siemens Gamesa's RecyclableBlades in the Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm, which was the maximum available quantity at the time (2022).
RecyclableBlades are designed to facilitate recycling by using a type of resin that dissolves in a low-temperature, mildly acidic solution. This separates the resin from the blade's other components: fibreglass, carbon fibre, plastic, wood and metal, without significantly impacting their properties. As a result, these materials can be efficiently recycled into new products afterwards.
More about circularity
The transition to a circular economy is an opportunity, and renewable energy is an important piece of the puzzle in driving the circular economy forward.
Transform to a more circular business
Circularity is essential to securing future resource needs, reducing costs, and achieving our sustainability targets.
See also
Wind turbine turned into compact living
A wind turbine nacelle was turned into a tiny house, showcasing innovative reuse of materials during the Dutch Design Week 2024.
From blades to buildings
In a new high-tech neighbourhood in Lund in southern Sweden, turbine blades from a decommissioned wind farm will become a very visible part of the façade of an eco-friendly multistore...
Circularity in our heat operations
Vattenfall’s heat operations are commonly located near urban areas, enabling the recovery of excess heat even from smaller companies.