Episode 16: Circular Economy for the Offshore Wind Industry

For having an average lifespan of 20-25 years, many of the world's wind turbines installed in the nineties and early noughties are now reaching the end of their life cycle. This raises the question, what happens to them when they stop working? Whilst they are excellent producers of green energy, challenges arise when it is time for their decommissioning as the size and durable material used during manufacturing are difficult to recycle and reuse. Despite around 80-85% of the weight of an offshore wind turbine being recyclable, turbine blades still represent a significant challenge to the environment that the industry is working hard to find a solution for. In this episode, we hear from experts who are working on projects that look to improve best practices and procedures that are currently in place to ensure these green energy producers remain as green in their end of life. • Michael Forbes, Refurbishment Manager, Renewable Parts • Dr Anne Velenturf, Research Impact Fellow in Circular Economy & Sustainable Offshore Wind Development at the University of Leeds • Steve Ross, Regional Partnership Manager, ORE Catapult • Lorna Bennet, Project Engineer, ORE Catapult