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KNVTS lecture: TNO’s view on circularity of wind turbines
June 12
To meet the EU’s 2050 climate-neutral goals, wind turbines must become circular, especially focusing on sustainable recycling of composite blades. Current methods like landfilling and incineration are not viable, and there is no cost-effective large-scale recycling solution yet. WindEurope expects blade waste to grow from 60 kton/year in 2025 to 800 kton/year in 2050. In the Netherlands, over 1,955 offshore turbines with 5,865 blades (260 kton of composite) are expected by 2030.
TNO is launching the CIRCLE4WIN project to develop a scalable and cost-efficient end-of-life solution for offshore blades using thermolysis to recover glass fibers. Success depends on improving cutting, pre-treatment, logistics, and material transparency—supported by a Digital Product Passport (DPP). The project also explores future blade designs using bio-based materials, detachable parts, and longer lifespans.
During this lecture, the options for enabling circularity for wind turbines will be discussed.
Speaker: Dr. ir. N.P.M. Werter, Senior Scientist Composites & Structural Vibrations at TNO
Language: English