Aims
Wind energy is growing with millions of tonnes of materials from foundation industries such as steel, cement, copper, aluminium and glass fibre reinforced composite being deployed over the following decades. At the same time, thousands of turbines will reach their end of use in the next ten years. However, supply chains for decommissioning, disassembly and reuse/repair/remanufacturing and recycling into new materials and components are still underdeveloped.
This case study aims to I) Develop novel business opportunities for the foundation industries to close the loop on wind turbine end-of-use management, and II) Provide feedback on material selection and design to future-proof manufacturing of the next generation of wind turbines with a circular economy in mind.
Objectives
For the first part – developing novel business opportunities for the foundation industries to close the loop on wind turbine end-of-use management – this case study will back-cast through the supply chain from the foundation industries back to the wind farm operators to:
- Map quantities and qualities of material flows
- Investigate available and missing technologies for decommissioning, recycling and remanufacturing
- Analyse associated environmental, social and economic costs and benefits
- Gauge interest in foundation industries to pick up new business opportunities
The second part will evaluate the technical and commercial potential for end-of-use management of wind turbines and whether alternative choices in material selection and wind turbine component design could ease higher value end-of-use management such as remanufacturing.
Anticipated deliverables
Technical reports and publications on material flow mapping, industrial processes, business cases for investment into new supply chains and diversifying business activities in various foundation industries. We also aim to collaborate on an end-of-use management guide for wind energy and the role of the foundation industries and on innovation roadmaps in foundation and wind industries.
