A new report from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) highlights recommendations to enhance the recycling and reuse of decommissioned wind turbine components, aiming to foster a more circular economy and sustainable supply chain. The research shows that existing infrastructure in the USA could process up to 90% of the mass of decommissioned wind turbines, but new strategies and innovative recycling methods are required to address the remaining 10% and support a more sustainable wind energy sector.
The report, titled *Recycling Wind Energy Systems in the United States Part 1: Providing a Baseline for America’s Wind Energy Recycling Infrastructure for Wind Turbines and Systems*, identifies gaps and research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) needs within current supply chains to drive the transition to a circular wind energy industry.
Effective recycling and reuse of wind system components will depend on a range of measures, including:
- Improved decommissioning, collection, and scrap sorting practices
- Strategic siting of recycling facilities
- Expanded and optimised recycling infrastructure
- Substitution of hard-to-recycle materials with more easily separable alternatives
- Enhanced designs for modular components and manufacturing improvements
- Access to waste streams and specialised disassembly equipment
Towers, foundations, and steel-based subcomponents in drivetrains currently offer the highest recycling potential. In contrast, blades, generators, and nacelle covers present greater challenges. The recovery of critical materials and alloying elements from generators and power electronics—such as nickel, cobalt, and zinc—is key to achieving a circular wind economy.
Short-term strategies include adopting thermoplastic resins in blade production, which can be reused in cement manufacturing. Medium- and long-term recycling solutions for blades involve technologies such as pyrolysis and chemical dissolution. Additionally, advanced techniques to separate compounds in power electronics and hybrid methods for recycling permanent magnets are under development.
The report was produced by a team led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, with support from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories. The findings will inform the Wind Energy Recycling Research, Development, and Demonstration programme, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to advance sustainable wind energy practices.
