RWE has begun installing recyclable rotor blades at its 1.4GW Sofia offshore wind farm in the North Sea.
The developer said half of the project’s 100 Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 turbines will feature the pioneering blades, manufactured at the company’s Hull facility.
The blades use an innovative resin that allows their materials to be separated and recycled at the end of their operational life into products such as vehicle components and consumer goods.
RWE offshore wind chief operating officer Thomas Michel said: “Deploying recyclable blades at this scale is an indicator of RWE’s drive to deliver sustainability across its renewables fleet.”
Siemens Gamesa UK vice president Darren Davidson added: “Seeing the first recyclable blades being installed in UK waters is a major landmark moment.”
The 1.4GW Sofia project is located on Dogger Bank, 195km off north-east England, and is scheduled to be operational in 2026. It will generate enough electricity to power 1.2 million homes.