Wind turbines contribute to cleaner energy goals, but their end-of-life management requires sustainable solutions.
A Spanish infrastructure firm is tackling the issue of retired wind turbine blades through innovative recycling and reuse strategies.
Wind turbine blades, constructed from durable composite materials, present a major disposal challenge at the end of their lifespan. These blades are difficult to recycle due to their size and composition, and mostly ends up in landfills.
ACCIONA, a renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure company, set out to find sustainable solutions for recycling and repurposing these blades to minimize environmental impact.
The innovative efforts culminated in the creation of the world’s first surfboards crafted from a retired wind turbine blade.
The company also partnered with professional surfer Josh Kerr.
Robust surfboards
These unique surfboards, meticulously handcrafted on Australia’s Gold Coast, represent a fusion of sustainability and performance.
Utilizing repurposed materials from decommissioned wind turbines, the surfboards incorporate strips of turbine blade material into the deck.
The fins are constructed from recycled fiberglass, which is designed to enhance stability, drive, and speed in the water.
To make the surfboards stronger and more eco-friendly, tiny pieces of recycled wind turbine blades are mixed into the outer fiberglass layer, resulting in a durable and sustainable board.
In February, Australia saw the launch of Turbine Made, an initiative that pioneers the recycling of wind turbine blades into new products.
Under this initiative, the company has produced ten prototype surfboards from a retired wind turbine blade from their Waubra wind farm in Victoria, Australia.
“When ACCIONA approached us about being part of the solution and working together to create these surfboards, we jumped at the opportunity. At its core, our brand is about enabling the best surfing experience with quality products, in a sustainable way – which aligns with ACCIONA’s vision for Turbine Made,” said Josh Kerr, Australian professional surfer and founder of Draft Surf.
The waste problem expected to increase
The global shift towards clean energy, aimed at reducing emissions, will inevitably lead to an increase in decommissioned wind turbine blades worldwide soon.
“We know that in the next 5 to 10 years countries like Australia will have a large volume of decommissioned wind turbine blades, so we’re acting now to explore new ways to recycle and reuse the material they are built from,” said Mariola Domenech, ACCIONA Energia’s Global Sustainability Director.
The initiative also furthers the company’s commitment to a circular economy within the Australian renewable energy sector.
“The creation of a surfboard prototype, developed locally, is an example of how we’re reimagining the materials from decommissioned turbine blades and pushing the envelope of innovation when it comes to the circular economy,” Domenech added in the press release.
ACCIONA’s Turbine Made initiative is part of a broader effort to repurpose wind turbine blades.
Prior projects include partnerships with El Ganso to create sneakers with recycled blade soles and using blade material in solar tracker components at a Spanish solar plant.
Moreover, the company is building a wind turbine blade recycling plant in Navarra, Spain. Scheduled to open in 2026, this plant will process 6,000 tons of blade material annually.
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