Vattenfall and BASF will install Siemens Gamesa’s RecyclableBlades at the Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm off the coast of the Netherlands.
Three of the 140 Siemens Gamesa turbines will be fitted with the new blades, which are made with a new type of resin that makes it easier to reclaim the different blade components, in 2023.
Vattenfall environment and sustainability unit head Eva Philipp said: “The wind industry continues to grow and so will the number of blades that will reach end of life.
“Vattenfall is committed to promoting a circular economy and reducing environmental impact throughout the product’s life cycle.
“Using recyclable turbine blades is a logical next step to reach those ambitions.”
Siemens Gamesa’s RecyclableBlades use a resin type that dissolves in a low-temperature, mildly acidic solution.
This separates the resin from the other components in the blade – fibreglass, carbon fibre, plastic, wood, and metal – without significantly impacting their properties.
This allows the components to be recycled into new products afterwards, Vattenfall said.
Hollandse Kust Zuid 1-4 is the first Vattenfall project that will employ them with installation intended for 2023.
Vattenfall has also secured availability of the blades for its Hollandse Kust West projects.
If Vattenfall is awarded one or both sites, a number of turbines are targeted to employ Siemens Gamesa RecyclableBlades, it said.