Listen to our experts for a discussion on how the wind energy sector is making materials more sustainable.
Wind turbines already have a recyclability rate of 85% to 90%. It is crucial that we can guarantee this recyclability as the EU heads towards a circular economy. Wind, together with the chemical and composite industries are making significant progress in diversifying and scaling-up recycling technologies. The current debate is focused on the recyclability of existing materials and any new materials that could be used in the future. For that, the EU must prioritise Research and Innovation funding as part of the next R&I framework programme, Horizon Europe. This is critical to safeguarding Europe’s technology leadership.
Presentations:
- Introduction, Adrian Timbus, ETIPWind Executive Committee Chair/ Hitachi ABB Power Grids
- Keynote speech, Milan Grohol, DG GROW, European Commission
- Modular Wooden Towers for Tall Wind Turbines, Otto Lundman, Modvion
- Superconductors for MVDC Connections, Marcos Byrne, Supernode
- The GreenSpur Rare Earth Free Permanent Magnet Generator, Andrew Hine, Commercial Director, GreenSpur Wind Limited
- Decomblades project, Allan K. Poulse, Vestas
- Metals for a sustainable future, Johan Andersson, Boliden (members of the European Copper Alliance)
- Improving the environmental impact of windmills decommissioning, Eric Waeyenbergh, TF Waste CEMBUREAU / Geocycle Europe/LafargeHolcim
- Towards a New Generation of Glass Fibre Products Based on Regenerated Fibres Recycled from End-Of-Life GRP and GRP Manufacturing Waste, James Thomason, University of Strathclyde
- VALOMAG Project: From the recovery of scrap magnets to the production of new magnets and rare earth oxides, Virginie Decottignies, SUEZ
- Developing Zero Waste Wind Turbine Blades with Sustainable Materials, John Korsgaard, LM Wind Power
- EU Outlook on Wind Energy Research: A case for Circularity, Carlos Eduardo Lima da Cunha, DG RTD, European Commission
Further information:
- ETIPWind report ‘Circular blade recycling’
- WindEurope report ‘Decommissioning’
- WindEurope report ‘Rare Earths’
The event was organised by the European Technology & Innovation Platform on Wind Energy (ETIPWind) with the support of the WindEurope Sustainability Working Group.