The first wind blade recycling plant in the Iberian Peninsula

Solar energy, wind energy, hydropower. The era of renewables is here to stay. They are capable of producing electricity with practically no emission of greenhouse gases, they help reduce electricity tariffs, the fuel that feeds them is free, local economies improve, they make use of local resources ... Undoubtedly, there are many economic, social and environmental benefits provided by renewable energy sources. But, like everything, you have to do it thinking about the environment.

Wind power is one of the key energies to address the climate emergency. However, it is no longer enough just to have a low-emission or zero-emission regime. You also have to think about what happens to these technological solutions when their useful life comes to an end.

According to Wind Europa, the energy sector plans to dismantle some 14,000 wind turbines by 2023. In Spain alone, some 25,000 tonnes of waste would be accumulated that same year, according to the Wind Business Association (AEE). It is estimated that by 2050 the wind industry could generate around 43 million tonnes of waste globally.

Currently, in our country, discarded wind blades are rebuilt in the second-hand market to be sold subsequently to other countries. But, given that replacement volumes are now low, recyclable technological solutions are being proposed  to help us reduce this amount of waste.

From Endesa, in collaboration with PreZero Spain, we are already working to start up the first wind blade recycling plant in the Iberian Peninsula. With the assistance of GE Renewable Energy and its subsidiary LM Wind Power, this is a major step towards a circular economy model in the wind sector.

Circular economy: this is how we will recycle wind blades

This project, which is part of our Futur-e Plan and reinforces our commitment to sustainable development, will be located in Cubillos del Sil (León). Specifically for the Compostilla industrial complex in which, recently, the Ministry of Ecological Transition and the Castilla y León regional government have approved seven projects to create value in the communities in which the decarbonisation process is being carried out.

Construction of the new recycling plant will begin next year, with the aim of meeting the challenge of recycling more than 6,000 tonnes per year of fibre glass and carbon from wind turbines, to give a second lease of life to the materials used in the blades. "This is how we reaffirm our commitment to sustainable energy generation and the circular economy," says Rafael González, General Manager of Generation at Endesa.

In this new facility, we will recycle blades and industrial waste from other production processes. While GE Renewable Energy will offer its Spain-based customers the option to recycle disused blades using the new plant, LM Wind Power will supply around 50% of the surplus fibre glass generated during the manufacture of blades at its plants in Ponferrada (León) and Castellón. Subsequently, this fibre can be used in other sectors such as construction. We will provide blades that we no longer use in our renewable facilities.

The project, located in an area affected by processes of closure of thermal power plants, will also give a sustainable boost to the area and its economic activity, thereby avoiding relocation. Thus, the new plant that will start operating in 2024 will create around 30 direct jobs and generate other indirect jobs related to logistics.

As explained by the General Manager of Generation at Endesa, “at all the plants in the closing phase, we are carrying out projects like this, which aim to promote local employment and social and economic development". This project, plus the other 6 approved in El Bierzo, add up to around 160 new jobs. "We continue to work to create shared value in the local communities where our projects are carried out," adds González.

The recycling of wind blades is one of the most ambitious sustainable challenges in the energy sector. Therefore, in addition to investing in the search for solutions, it is essential to share knowledge and experiences. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge has now published the 2nd Catalogue of Good Circular Economy Practices. A catalogue full of initiatives in which four Endesa practices have been included, among which the "Repair and reuse of wind power plant equipment".