In a groundbreaking development for the wind energy industry, DNV has unveiled the success of its pilot program utilizing ReWind, a digital service designed to enhance the sustainability of wind turbine decommissioning. The pilot, conducted from June to October 2023, involved seven prominent customers, including industry giants Orsted, SSE, and Energia. Together, they contributed 55 projects spanning seven countries, with a combined total of 7830MW modeled.
Through the utilization of ReWind, participating customers achieved remarkable savings, estimated at 1985 workdays and €680,000 when compared to conventional non-digital solutions. This significant cost and time reduction underscore the transformative potential of ReWind in streamlining decommissioning processes.
See also: Ardersier Port secures £300m investment to become key offshore wind and energy transition hub
Matthew Geraghty, the visionary founder of ReWind at DNV, emphasized the critical importance of sustainable decommissioning practices in maintaining the industry's credibility. He highlighted how ReWind's innovative approach not only addresses this pressing need but also delivers tangible benefits to stakeholders.
“The wind power industry will encounter serious reputational and credibility challenges if it cannot find a sustainable solution to turbine decommissioning,” stated Geraghty. “Our pilot demonstrates that taking a digital approach saves time and money, ultimately bolstering the industry's long-term viability.”
ReWind automates the generation of decommissioning plans, utilizing user-provided data to determine optimal recycling strategies for turbine components. This streamlined process not only ensures compliance with evolving regulatory requirements but also maximizes resource efficiency.
See also: Virgin Money Supports Ripple Energy in £14m Wind Farm Development in Ayrshire, Scotland
Johan Schoovonen, Senior Circularity Specialist at Orsted and a participant in the ReWind pilot, expressed enthusiasm for the platform's potential to drive circularity and enhance asset value. He praised ReWind's user-friendly interface and its ability to provide detailed assessments of material breakdown and decommissioning costs.
“We joined ReWind as we saw exciting potential in this new service from DNV,” Schoovonen remarked. “ReWind's easy-to-use, market-leading decommissioning and recyclability software enables us to maximize the circularity of our projects while unlocking significant time savings.”
The adoption of ReWind represents a significant step forward for the wind energy sector, aligning with industry-wide efforts to improve sustainability and address the challenges of turbine decommissioning. As more turbines approach the end of their operational life, the need for effective decommissioning solutions becomes increasingly urgent.
With enhancements driven by customer feedback, ReWind continues to evolve, expanding its scope to support diverse applications such as bidding and repowering. Additionally, it now caters to offshore projects, further enhancing its versatility and utility for stakeholders across the wind energy value chain.
DNV's ReWind platform not only facilitates more sustainable wind energy development but also empowers customers to achieve their sustainability objectives effectively. By providing the tools and resources needed to navigate the end-of-life processes for wind farms, ReWind is poised to drive lasting positive change within the industry.
