DOE report finds US can recycle 90% of decommissioned wind turbine mass

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Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Michael Edwards (Video Editor)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a report exploring ways to improve the recycling of materials used in wind energy infrastructure. With wind turbines typically lasting about 20 years and around one-third of the nation’s wind energy capacity built within the last five years, the U.S. is facing a significant waste challenge in the coming decades.

By 2050, the U.S. is projected to have approximately 2.2 million tons of retired wind turbine materials headed to landfills. The DOE’s report found that up to 90% of decommissioned turbine mass can currently be processed for reuse domestically. However, new strategies and technologies are needed to address the remaining 10%.

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“The U.S. already has the ability to recycle most wind turbine materials, so achieving a fully sustainable domestic wind energy industry is well within reach,” Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, said in a statement. “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.”

Recommendations include improved decommissioning and scrap-sorting practices, expanded recovery infrastructure and the development of modular and recyclable wind systems. While steel-based towers are more easily recyclable, materials like blades and generators present greater challenges.

To address these gaps, the DOE has committed $20 million, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to develop technologies for wind energy recycling. This investment will support research, development and demonstration programs to enhance recycling processes and strengthen the domestic supply chain.

Additionally, the DOE recently concluded its Wind Turbine Materials Recycling Prize, awarding $3.6 million to six teams advancing innovative recycling technologies. These efforts aim to expand domestic recycling capabilities and bring new solutions closer to commercialization.

Tags: Offshore wind farms, Recycling, Renewable energy, U.S. Energy Department, Wind energy, Wind farms

[Lauren]

A NEW REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY IS LOOKING INTO WAYS TO IMPROVE THE RECYCLING OF MATERIALS FOR WIND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE TYPICAL LIFESPAN OF A WIND TURBINE IS ABOUT 20 YEARS-

AND WITH ABOUT A THIRD OF THE NATION’S ENERGY CAPACITY FROM THIS RENEWABLE SOURCE HAVING BEEN BUILT UP WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS-

THE U.S. HAS MAJOR WASTE PROBLEM LOOMING IN THE COMING DECADES WHEN ALL THAT NEW INFRASTRUCTURE EVENTUALLY NEED REPLACING.

BY 2050 THE U.S. IS PROJECTED TO HAVE AROUND 2.2 MILLION TONS OF RETIRED TURBINE MATERIALS HEADING TO LANDFILLS.

HOWEVER, THE D-O-E’S REPORT FOUND THE COUNTRY CURRENTLY HAS THE ABILITY TO PROCESS UP TO 90 PERCENT OF THE MASS FROM ITS DECOMMISSIONED WIND TURBINES FOR RE-USE-

THOUGH ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES AND TECHNOLOGIES ARE NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE REMAINING 10 PERCENT.

THESE INCLUDE IMPROVED DECOMMISSIONING AND SCRAP SORTING PRACTICES, EXPANDED RECOVERY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODULAR AND RECYCLABLE WIND SYSTEMS.

WHILE COMPONENTS LIKE STEEL-BASED TOWERS ARE MORE EASILY RECYCLABLE, CHALLENGES REMAIN WITH MATERIALS LIKE BLADES AND GENERATORS.

THE DOE HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED A 20 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT, FUNDED BY THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, TO DEVELOP TECHNOLOGIES AIMED AT ADDRESSING THESE GAPS.

THIS FUNDING WILL SUPPORT RESEARCH INTO WIND ENERGY RECYCLING, DEVELOPMENT, AND A DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM, WHICH FOCUSES ON IMPROVING WIND TURBINE MATERIAL RECYCLING PROCESSES AND BOLSTERING THE DOMESTIC SUPPLY CHAIN.

THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT ALSO RECENTLY CONCLUDED ITS WIND TURBINE MATERIALS RECYCLING PRIZE-

AWARDING 3.6 MILLION DOLLARS TO SIX TEAMS DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES.

THESE EFFORTS AIM TO EXPAND DOMESTIC RECYCLING CAPABILITIES AND BRING NEW TECHNOLOGIES CLOSER TO COMMERCIALIZATION.

INDUSTRY EXPERTS CITED IN THE REPORT BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE THE U.S. ALREADY HAS THE ABILITY TO RECYCLE MOST WIND TURBINE MATERIALS-

ACHIEVING A FULLY SUSTAINABLE DOMESTIC WIND ENERGY INDUSTRY IS WITHIN REACH.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.