Wind energy could get even greener by replacing steel with wood

The wind energy industry may be on the verge of becoming even more environmentally friendly. Even though wind turbines create almost zero pollution once they are up and spinning, the processes of constructing and deconstructing them can still be fairly carbon-intensive and produce a lot of waste.

Some in the industry are now turning to wood as a potential solution to these challenges. Using wood instead of steel is more cost-effective, easier to dispose of and is responsible for fewer emissions.

For every ton of steel manufactured, nearly 2 tons of carbon dioxide are emitted. Considering that the average U.S. wind turbine requires nearly 400 tons of steel, the carbon footprint associated with their construction amounts to approximately 800 tons of CO2 pollution each. These emissions equate to burning almost a million pounds of coal for every turbine erected.

Environmental concerns extend beyond turbine construction to their eventual decommissioning. Industry projections suggest that by 2050, the world could be grappling with 50 million tons of retired fiberglass turbine blades, posing significant challenges for recycling due to the material’s composition.

Energy companies in Germany and Sweden are at the forefront of embracing wood in turbine manufacturing to solve these issues. Germany recently achieved a milestone by installing the first wood-based blades on a wind turbine at an operational farm. Meanwhile, Sweden utilized reforestation-certified sustainably managed forests to erect the world’s tallest wooden turbine tower in 2023.

These manufacturers tout wood as a viable substitute capable of slashing emissions associated with turbine construction by as much as 90%. Just like how trees absorb carbon, using wood to build wind energy infrastructure can allow the projects to store more pollution than the turbines emit.

Wooden blades also offer enhanced recyclability, with some being entirely biodegradable. Using this material helps energy companies save on building materials up to 20%.

These developments come as wind energy is poised for exponential growth globally in the coming decades. Projections indicate that over a third of the U.S. and half of Europe could be powered by turbines by 2050.