Presentations

Abstract

Presentation of some findings from The Regulations to Ensure Sustainable Circular Use at End-of-Life for Wind (RESCUE) Project, in particular the work for Work package 3. This work package 3 examined the emerging challenges and practices associated with wind farm decommissioning at a time when the sector is only beginning to encounter assets reaching end of life. With relatively few fully decommissioned sites to date, the study highlights how current approaches are shaped by limited precedent, evolving regulatory frameworks, and significant gaps between initial planning and end of life decision making. It finds that decommissioning is often treated as a late stage, operational issue, with outcomes driven largely by cost, health and safety, logistics, and site constraints rather than long term environmental or circularity objectives. Fragmented ownership structures, inconsistent planning requirements, and weak traceability across downstream waste chains further complicate accountability and governance. To address these evidence gaps, the project combines case based insights with perspectives from industry innovators working on circular solutions for end of life wind infrastructure. In total, 22 organisations and individuals were interviewed during the duration of the project (February 2025-March 2026), including both actors directly involved in the decommissioning of selected case study sites and those with broader experience in decommissioning and circularity practices elsewhere. Together, these insights provide a more nuanced understanding of the institutional, technical, and economic factors shaping decommissioning outcomes, and the challenges of embedding circular economy principles in practice. https://ore.catapult.org.uk/resource-hub/projects/the-regulations-to-ensure-sustainable-circular-use-at-end-of-life-for-wind-rescue-project"