Danish clean energy company Orsted has announced a strategic collaboration with Northern Irish firm Plaswire to enhance the recycling process of onshore wind turbine blades. The initiative aims to address sustainability concerns associated with decommissioned blades from Orsted's onshore wind farms in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, where the company manages 378 MW of onshore wind assets.
In a successful pilot project, Plaswire, based in County Armagh, recycled three blades from a decommissioned turbine at Orsted's Owenreagh wind farm in County Tyrone. These blades were transformed into Plaswire's smart RX Polymer, a material widely used in the construction industry.
Ray O'Connell, Director of Operations at Orsted UK and Ireland, expressed satisfaction with the cost-efficient method developed through the partnership with Plaswire. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the sustainable recycling of 100% of wind turbine blades. O'Connell highlighted the significance of partnering with a local company like Plaswire, particularly as some of Orsted's onshore fleet approaches the end of their operational life. This collaboration enables recycling without incurring additional carbon costs from international shipping.
In 2021, Orsted made a commitment to adopt environmentally friendly practices for its global onshore and offshore wind farm portfolio by reusing, recycling, or recovering all blades upon decommissioning.
