In 2024, Germany dismantled 555 wind turbines, highlighting the urgent need for a clear strategy for recycling their components, especially glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP). This is the call from the German Wind Energy Association (BWE), which is urging the new federal government to take creative and decisive action on this issue.

While wind turbines can be almost fully recycled, specific regulations for handling materials such as GRP are still insufficient. During Olaf Scholz’s government, BWE’s proposals for improved recycling regulations were not implemented. Now, BWE President Bärbel Heidebroek is demanding a change in direction. "The recyclability of wind turbines is one of the key advantages of this technology compared to other forms of energy generation," said Heidebroek. "For this advantage to be realised, we need a clear political regulatory framework."

Among the BWE’s key demands are:

• The establishment of a uniform dismantling standard as a best practice.

• The creation of a specialised waste code for CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced plastic) and GRP materials.

• A ban on the export of used rotor blades to prevent illegal dumping abroad.

• The harmonisation of recycling standards across Europe, closing legal loopholes and ensuring sustainable practices continent-wide.

Currently, Germany’s wind turbine fleet has an average age of 15.2 years, and nearly half of the installed capacity has been operating for more than a decade. This suggests a significant increase in dismantling in the near future, especially in regions like Saxony, where the oldest plants are concentrated.

Heidebroek concluded: "Recycling challenges will become increasingly urgent. The new federal government now has the opportunity to set clear guidelines from the outset. The industry’s proposals are already on the table."

The BWE and other organisations, such as the Federal Environment Agency and the Federal-State Working Group on Waste (LAGA), agree that it is time to act. Responsible recycling is not only an environmental necessity but also an opportunity to strengthen the circular economy within Germany’s energy transition.