A new report from the US Department of Energy (DOE) reveals promising developments in the recycling of decommissioned wind turbines, suggesting that 90% of wind turbine mass can already be processed using existing US infrastructure. The report also highlights the need for further investment in innovative recycling strategies to address the remaining 10%, helping to boost sustainability and support a circular economy in the wind energy sector.

The study, 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, outlines key recommendations for expanding the recycling and reuse of wind energy materials. It emphasizes the potential to significantly improve the sustainability of wind energy by recycling turbine components and materials in more efficient ways.

Source: DOE

The report comes at a key moment for the US wind industry, after President-elect Donald Trump declared that, upon taking office, he will implement a policy that would halt the construction of wind turbines. Trump called the turbines “a disaster” and described them as a source of “garbage” spread across the country. According to his statements, “they're scattered all over the country like papers lying around, like garbage in a field.... They are rusting, rotting, closing, falling.... And new ones keep being installed next to them because nobody wants to remove them, since removing the old ones is very expensive”.

Jeff Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, stated, "The US already has the ability to recycle most wind turbine materials, so achieving a fully sustainable domestic wind energy industry is well within reach. Innovation is key to closing the loop, and this research will help guide national investments and strategies aimed at advancing technologies that can solve the remaining challenges and provide more affordable, equitable, and accessible clean energy options to the American people.”

The report outlines several necessary measures, including the improvement of decommissioning practices, strategic placement of recycling facilities, and the development of modular system components. Researchers identified the greatest potential for successful recycling in towers, foundations, and steel-based subcomponents, while components like blades, generators, and nacelle covers remain challenging. Additionally, recovering critical materials from generators, such as nickel, cobalt, and zinc, is essential for a circular economy.

One short-term strategy includes promoting the use of thermoplastic resins in blade production, which can be more easily recycled, with potential applications in cement production. Medium- and long-term solutions, such as advanced pyrolysis and chemical dissolution technologies for blade recycling, offer further promise. Innovations in power electronics recycling and permanent magnet recovery are also being explored.

Source: NREL

Material breakdown by weight of current and (potential) future designs of land-based and offshore wind energy technologies (as defined in REMPD). Adapted from Materials Used in U.S. Wind Energy Technologies: Quantities and Availability for Two Future Scenarios (Eberle et al. 2023). Note: kg = kilogram, MW = megawatt

Regional factors like material demand, transportation costs, and available workforce will be crucial in ensuring the cost-effectiveness of wind energy recycling.

To support these efforts, the DOE has announced an investment of $20 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to develop wind turbine recycling technologies. This funding is aimed at improving the recycling of wind turbine materials and bolstering the US supply chain. Applications for this program are due by February 11, 2025.

Additionally, in September 2024, the DOE announced the winners of the Wind Turbine Materials Recycling Prize, a $3.6 million competition designed to expand domestic recycling capabilities and move innovative technologies closer to commercialization.