GE Renewable Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with LafargeHolcim to explore ways of using materials from decommissioned wind turbines.
The collaboration aims to build on LafargeHolcim’s 10 years of experience in recovering energy from wind turbine blades.
The companies are exploring new ways of recycling wind blades, including as a construction material to build new wind farms.
GE Renewable Energy CEO Jerome Pecresse said: “This is a truly exciting next step in our journey to introduce new circular lifecycle improvements for the wind industry.
“We are delighted to work with LafargeHolcim on these critical projects, which will help to improve the sustainability of wind power now and well into the future.”
Following its collaboration with LafargeHolcim, GE Renewable Energy has entered into an MoU for a multi-year agreement with Neowa to dismantle decommissioned wind turbines in Germany.
It is looking at the recycling of a variety of components, including blades, during partial and full repowering, to contribute to the lifecycle circularity of the wind industry.
The companies will also jointly explore the potential to expand Neowa’s unique blade recycling technology for other countries in Europe.
LafargeHolcim is exploring how wind turbine blades can be turned into sustainable construction materials.
This research builds on the company’s work, under its Geocycle brand, to recover energy from GE’s decommissioned turbine blades after they have been removed from the turbine and shredded.
Geocycle offers co-processing technology for wind blades in Germany and will evaluate the possibility of extending this solution to other parts of Europe.
A new Circular Economy Action Plan is one of the main blocks of the European Green Deal.
Nearly 10 GW of aging turbines in Europe are expected to be repowered or decommissioned by 2025.
LafargeHolcim recycled 46 million tons of materials across its business in 2020 and on its way to 100 million tonnes by 2030.