RWE has started installing recyclable rotor blades at its 1.4-gigawatt (GW) Sofia offshore wind farm in the North Sea, marking a step toward more sustainable wind energy infrastructure, the company said on Thursday.
Half of the project’s 100 Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 turbines will be equipped with blades manufactured using a specially developed resin that enables material separation and recycling at the end of their operational life. The blades are being produced at Siemens Gamesa’s facility in Hull, northeast England.
“Deploying recyclable blades at this scale is an indicator of RWE’s drive to deliver sustainability across its renewables fleet,” said Thomas Michel, RWE’s chief operating officer for offshore wind.
The recyclable blades can be processed into new products, such as vehicle components and consumer goods, once decommissioned—addressing a long-standing challenge in wind turbine disposal.
“Seeing the first recyclable blades being installed in UK waters is a major landmark moment,” added Darren Davidson, UK vice president at Siemens Gamesa.
Located 195 kilometres off the northeast coast of England on Dogger Bank, the Sofia wind farm is expected to become operational in 2026. Once completed, it will generate enough electricity to supply approximately 1.2 million homes.
The project is part of RWE’s broader offshore wind portfolio and contributes to the UK’s target of expanding clean energy capacity to meet net-zero emissions goals.
