Posters

Abstract

Summary The objectives of the ReWind project are to create a data driven digital platform that can help i) understand the costs and environmental impacts of decommissioning of onshore and offshore wind projects ii) evaluate the current downstream supply chain in Europe and provide an outlook to 2040 and beyond and iii) to establish an industry best practice procedure for decommissioning, re-use and recycling of components. The number of wind farms reaching their end of life is increasing exponentially year on year and the amount of composite waste generated from ageing wind farms in Europe will reach of 30,000 tonnes per year by 2025. Wind farm owners and operators are faced with unprecedented challenges in estimating the economic and environmental costs associated with decommissioning. Understanding the cost and circularity impacts of decommissioning were found to be essential inputs to the repowering case and a top priority in optimising the life time value of wind projects. The project has mapped the European decommissioning supply chain with regards to composite, metal, concrete and hydraulic fluid recycling as well as rare earth processing, decommissioning service providers and traders of second hand turbines and components. Onshore and offshore decommissioning cost models have also been developed based on country specific data. The project will develop a stepwise industry best practice for the planning and execution of decommissioning projects. Method Interviews were conducted with farm developers, owners, and operators in order to understand the challenges faced with regards decommissioning. Supply chain stakeholders such as decommissioning contractors and recycling facilities were also interviewed. A survey was carried out to supplement the interviews and received over 100 responses. The decommissioning supply chain has been mapped in a digital format. The data included has been compiled from DNV and publicly available databases. Decommissioning cost models have been designed in a bottom up approach based on real data from decommissioning projects and relevant stakeholders such as scrap facilities and considering each activity in the decommissioning process. Results It was found that understanding the cost and circularity impacts of decommissioning were found to be essential inputs to the repowering case and a top priority in optimising the life time value of wind projects. A database of decommissioning service providers and recycling facilities has been compiled including an intuituitive interactive user interface. Decommissioning cost models have been developed and digitalised such that a user can enter basic project details and immediately estimate the cost of decommissioning and use this in a repowering business case. Conclusions Final conclusions will be drawn in Summer 2024 however the following observations are made: i) There is very high interest in decommissioning and repowering in the wind industry particularly with regards to circularity and recyclability of new and existing assets. ii) data on material breakdown, circularity and decommissioning cost are essential inputs for repowering cases iv) the extent of the European decommissioning supply chain is not fully understood iv) there is a need for a standardised industry approach to improve confidence and efficiency.