Sector News
Working towards a European standard for decommissioning wind turbines
European wind turbines manufacturers and suppliers sell their technologies on different markets across the EU. Harmonising national standards that apply to the decommissioning of wind turbines will be key to ensuring cost- and resource-efficient processes. That’s why WindEurope is intensifying its efforts towards a European standard. This November WindEurope will publish a comprehensive document on this at its End-of-Life Issues and Strategies seminar (EoLIS).
While wind energy is increasing its share in Europe’s electricity mix, more and more first-generation wind turbines are coming close to their operational end-of-life. In Germany, for example, all turbines installed up to and including the year 2000 will reach the end of their 20-year EEG feed-in tariffs in 2021. Much of the 3.800-4.000 MW capacity affected in 2021 will be decommissioned and recycled. WindEurope estimates that across Europe 14,000 wind turbine blades will need to be recycled by 2023.
WindEurope has created a Task Force on Dismantling and Decommissioning, including the whole wind energy supply chain. Together, the members of the Task Force work towards a more sustainable and circular approach to wind turbine decommissioning. The Task Force is currently preparing the submission of practical recommendations to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The IEC aims to use this input to define global standards for wind turbine recycling.
WindEurope advocates for an industry-wide and international standard rather than specific national regulations. Especially in border regions, specialised companies would benefit from harmonised standards. Nevertheless, in defining such an industry-wide standard, the WindEurope Task Force regularly engages with national initiatives, such as RDR Wind, a group mainly representing the waste management industry, that recently proposed the new DIN SPEC 4866.
-
Events5 years ago
Canada and Turkey women working in the renewable energy sector in met
-
Manufacturers of wind turbines5 years ago
GE’s Haliade-X 12 MW prototype to be installed in Rotterdam
-
Operations and Maintenance6 years ago
GENBA is on the rise; another milestone passed by in global existence
-
Genel8 years ago
EWT launches the DW61, It’s most efficient and high energy producing wind turbine
-
Genel9 years ago
Internet of things will empower the wind energy power plants
-
Turbine Manufacturing6 years ago
İğrek Makina focused on developing and producing Machine Tools and Wind Energy Turbines
-
Energy management systems5 years ago
Demand/Supply – Renewable energy with guarantees of origin (GO)
-
Events5 years ago
Key Players from 10 Nations will Show Their Strong Positions at APWEE
-
Manufacturers of wind turbines5 years ago
The Nordex Group receives first order for Delta4000 turbines from the USA
-
Manufacturers of wind turbines4 years ago
ENERCON installs E-160 EP5 prototype
-
Genel7 years ago
Zorlu energy envisages a bold new future based on renewables
-
Manufacturers of wind turbines5 years ago
ENERCON and Lagerwey together develop two new WEC types