Keaton PetersThe wind energy industry has a recycling problem, but a new study points the way to making that problem a relic of the past. The United States already has the infrastructure to recycle 90% of wind turbine materials by mass but lacks domestic recycling capabilities for critical components including turbine blades and rare earth magnets, according to a new Department of Energy report. The DOE assessment outlines key steps for building a sustainable domestic wind recycling industry as the nation pursues ambitious clean energy goals.
The report’s release follows DOE’s announcement of a $20 million Wind Turbine Technology Recycling Funding Opportunity in December, which targets solutions for such hard-to-process materials like fiber-reinforced composites and rare earth magnets. The funding, provided through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will support projects across three key areas: developing alternate materials, scaling commercial recycling and creating industry standards.
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“The U.S. already has the ability to recycle most wind turbine materials, so achieving a fully sustainable domestic wind energy industry is well within reach,” said Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. He added that the research will “guide national investments aimed at advancing technologies that can solve the remaining challenges.”
The assessment found that existing U.S. recycling infrastructure can handle the steel and concrete that make up most of a turbine’s mass, including foundations, towers and some drivetrain components. However, sufficient recycling infrastructure does not exist yet for fiber-reinforced composites in turbine blades and nacelle covers, rare earth elements used in permanent magnets, electrical steel in generators and important materials like nickel and cobalt used in steel alloys.
The DOE projects that the cumulative amount of decommissioned material from U.S. wind energy systems could reach 133 million metric tons by 2050, with waste streams beginning to increase sharply in 2030. While steel and concrete make up 90% of this volume, the composite materials from blades represent a growing challenge, projected to reach 25 million metric tons by 2050.
In the short term, up to the end of 2026, the DOE recommends focusing on developing large-scale recycling demonstrations for blade materials and permanent magnets, creating standards for testing and recertifying used components and establishing material tracking and improved systems for sorting used materials.
In the medium term, up to 2035, the DOE report suggests shifting priorities to expanding domestic manufacturing of recycling equipment, developing low-temperature recycling processes and supporting regional recycling facilities. Long-term recommendations extending beyond 2035 emphasize creating certification standards for recycled materials, developing modular component designs, and advancing mobile recycling solutions.
The $20 million funding opportunity announced in December specifically addresses the short, medium and long-term priorities. Full applications for the funding opportunity are due by February 11, 2025, with selection notifications expected in spring and summer 2025.
The complete report compiled by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is available through the Department of Energy’s website.
Image by Markus Distelrath from Pixabay
