RWE has installed an offshore wind turbine featuring a reduced carbon steel tower and recyclable rotor blades at the 1.1 GW Thor offshore wind farm off the west coast of Denmark. The Siemens Gamesa GreenerTower uses steel plates that generate at least 63 per cent lower CO₂ emissions compared with conventional steel. The production process reduces emissions through the use of renewable-powered furnaces and recycled scrap steel.
Thor will also include Siemens Gamesa recyclable rotor blades. An alternative resin allows the composite materials in the blades to be separated and reused, for example in casting applications in the automotive and consumer goods sectors. A total of 72 wind turbines, each with a capacity of up to 15 MW, are scheduled for installation by the end of 2026. Half of the turbines will use towers produced with a lower carbon footprint, while 40 turbines will be equipped with 120 recyclable rotor blades.
image: RWE/Photographer Niklas Marc Heinecke
