Ignacio Julián, Anurag Bansal, and Daniel Grisenti.

Wind energy and circular materials experts met in Amsterdam this week for Leadvent Group’s 3rd Annual Wind Turbine Blade Materials and Recycling Forum.

The event on 3-4 February explored circular strategies, recycling technologies, repurposing, and the future of blade materials. Speakers and panelists shared forward-looking insights and real-world expertise.

REFRESH project coordinator RINA Consulting and partners ACCIONA and CIRCE joined the discussion, presenting the innovations being developed in REFRESH to enable smarter, scalable, and sustainable solutions for end-of-life blades.

  • Daniel Grisenti, REFRESH project coordinator, RINA, provided an overview of the project’s value chain in REFRESH: Scaling Up Sustainable End-of-Life Solutions for Blades.
  • Anurag Bansal, Head of Strategic Innovations, ACCIONA Construcción, discussed Challenges and Strategies for Using Recycled Wind Turbine Blades in Construction.
  • Ignacio Julián, Technology Project Manager, CIRCE, focused on Microwave-Assisted Recycling of Wind Turbine Blades: Challenges, Prospects, Process Scaling and Techno-economic Assessment.

Panel discussion: markets for recycled materials

The conference also featured a panel discussion exploring Leading End Markets for Recycled or Repurposed Materials.

Anurag Bansal joined the panel of experts to consider which markets could best utilise recycled blade materials. Construction was highlighted as a strong option, while automotive was also seen as a possibility.

Questions were also raised around costs. Opinions were mixed as to whether the recycler or the waste producer would pay for recycling, but all agreed that the market is not ready to pay a premium for recycled products.

Some of the barriers to the wider use of recycled materials were identified as a lack of standards, traceability, and quality assurance.

In addition to optimising and upscaling recycling processes for blades, the REFRESH solution includes the development of new products using the recycled materials. Products will be designed for applications in the wind sector, construction, and other markets. Read more.