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News & Insights
2023-12-08
12:34
Collaborative project for recycling wind turbine blades boosts circularity in fossil-free wind power
By 2030, it is estimated that more than 52,000 tons of wind turbine blades will need to be recycled each year in Europe alone. Recycling the massive blades of wind turbines has been considered impossible. But the Danish company Vestas – the world's largest wind turbine manufacturer – and Stena Recycling have now found a solution.
This year's edition of the collaborative platform Circular Initiative on November 14, initiated by Stena Recycling and gathering numerous major companies, focused on how collaborations across corporate and industry borders enable profitable circularity. Lisa Ekstrand, Vice President and Head of Sustainability at Vestas, presented a unique solution to a significant challenge for the continued growth of wind power – one of the fastest-growing energy sources worldwide.
During Lisa Ekstrand's first 13 years in the industry, recycling wind turbine blades was deemed impossible, due to challenging and complex materials. However, two years ago, Vestas – in collaboration with Stena Recycling and other partners – introduced a unique solution holding the potential to bring significant changes to the industry.
Innovations in breaking down epoxy resin for sustainable material recovery
"Since epoxy is used to glue the components of wind turbines together, it has previously been impossible to separate and consequently recycle them. Through collaborations with various partners, we achieved what we once thought couldn’t be done – breaking down epoxy resin into virgin materials. In the next step, we started working closely with Stena Recycling, who are experts in recycling. We are currently working together to scale up the recently established process to handle all materials headed for recycling."
Lisa Ekstrand, Vice President and Head of Sustainability at Vestas
Wind turbines were already 88 percent recyclable. Now, that figure is increasing significantly. And it's needed; in Europe alone, an estimated 52,000 tons of blades are expected to reach the end of their service life each year by 2030. According to Vestas and Stena Recycling, this project is an excellent example of how collaboration is key to circular progress.
Redefining relationships for progress and innovation
"To grow, evolve, and achieve our goals, we need to work together and establish new ways of viewing each other. The supplier and customer concept is outdated. Circularity is a competitive factor, and progress requires openness and trust between collaborators. I believe that companies in Scandinavia have every opportunity to be frontrunners here, as we already have an environment of significant trust between industries."
Henrik Grand Petersen, MD of Stena Recycling's operations in Denmark
About Stena Recycling
Stena Recycling plays a crucial role in the transition to a circular economy by providing recycling services and comprehensive solutions for efficient resource management. With nearly 3,000 dedicated employees and 166 facilities in seven countries, Stena Recycling annually recycles almost six million tons of waste and end-of-life products from over 100,000 customers across various industries. The recycled raw materials, including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastic, and paper, are further sold as materials for manufacturing new products. Stena Recycling operates in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Poland, Italy, and Germany. Stena Recycling is a part of the Stena Metall Group.
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