Enva, a leading waste management company, has launched a new recycling service for wind turbine blades. The service aims to solve the problem of what to do with the decommissioned blades from wind turbines, which are typically made of composite materials that are difficult to recycle.
Enva's solution involves crushing and shredding the blades, and then using the residual material as a replacement for traditional fossil fuels in the manufacture of cement. This process, known as co-processing, is a more sustainable way of producing cement, as it reduces the need for fossil fuels and reduces the amount of waste going to landfill.
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The recycling service has been successfully trialled at Enva's facility in Ayrshire, and is now being rolled out to wind power producers across Europe. To aid processing and transportation, Enva uses specialist equipment to cut the blades down into three 50 metre lengths prior to them being delivered to their recycling facility.
According to Enva, around 14,000 wind turbine blades will be decommissioned across Europe by 2023, and a landfill ban will be enforced in Europe in 2025. Michelle Scott, Operations Director at Enva, believes that the new recycling service will help to unlock the circular economy and commercial value of these waste streams.
“The increased use of alternative energy sources will result in new waste streams which will each require managing in a way that enables us to unlock their circular economy and commercial value,” says Scott. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Wind Sector and other energy companies to help them realise these benefits.”
Enva's new recycling service has the potential to make a significant impact on the wind energy sector, and the wider sustainability movement. By finding a way to recycle wind turbine blades, Enva is helping to reduce the environmental impact of wind energy, and supporting the transition to a more circular economy.
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As the demand for renewable energy continues to grow, it is important that we find sustainable solutions for managing the waste generated by this industry. Enva's new recycling service is a step in the right direction, and a positive example of how we can unlock the circular economy and commercial value of waste streams.
As Michelle Scott puts it: “By working together, we can find solutions that not only benefit the environment, but also the economy and society as a whole.”
