Presentations

Abstract

"The decommissioning of turbine T06 at the Scroby Sands offshore wind farm gave EMR and RWE the opportunity to prove what circularity in offshore wind really looks like. Scroby Sands was one of the UK’s first offshore wind farms. More than 20 years later, the site now represents the next stage of the energy transition: what happens when first-generation renewable infrastructure reaches end-of-life. The project focused on safely dismantling and recovering materials from the fire-damaged T06 turbine while keeping as much value in circulation as possible. A full decommissioning strategy was developed around safe offshore removal, material segregation at source and identifying the highest-value recovery route for every component. Working alongside local logistics and recycling partners, the blades, nacelle and tower were dismantled and transported ashore for processing. The blades, made from fibreglass and balsa wood, were transformed into polymer materials for use in drainage systems and groundworks. The nacelle and tower were processed through EMR’s local recycling infrastructure, recovering high-quality steel, aluminium and copper ready to re-enter UK supply chains. The project achieved a 99.9% recycling and recovery rate, diverting virtually all material away from landfill. More importantly, it proved that offshore wind decommissioning does not have to mean waste. With the right planning, partnerships and infrastructure, today’s turbines can become tomorrow’s materials. "