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Wind turbine blade made from recycled materials

Published in: Wind, Press Releases

Wind turbine blade made from recycled materials image

A major milestone has been reached in the European REFRESH project (*), where CETMA and Gjenkraft AS have collaborated to produce the first wind turbine blade section partly made from recycled materials recovered from end-of-life blades.

The blade section was manufactured by ÉireComposites (Ireland) and includes a non-woven mat made from pyrolyzed glass fibers recovered from Gjenkraft’s patent-pending pyrolysis process developed in Høyanger, Norway. This marks a significant breakthrough in circularity for the wind energy sector.

“This is tangible proof that full circularity for wind energy is possible. We have now moved from laboratory testing to a real component that demonstrates how recycled fibers can be used in new wind blades,” says Marcin Rusin, CEO of Gjenkraft AS.
“It demonstrates the power of European collaboration – where technology, innovation, and sustainability truly come together.”

The REFRESH project, funded by the EU Horizon Europe program, brings together eleven partners to develop and demonstrate new solutions for recycling and reusing composite materials from wind turbine blades. Gjenkraft’s role is to provide its technology, which enables almost 100% recovery of blade materials – including glass and carbon fibers, oil and gas – turning waste into valuable raw materials.

“The fact that materials from end-of-life wind turbines are now being reused in new blades shows that the industry is shifting from linear to circular production. This is a milestone for both Gjenkraft and the entire wind energy industry,” says Arvid Lønne, Chairman of the Board at Gjenkraft.

This achievement represents a new chapter for renewable energy — where sustainability extends beyond energy production to include materials and manufacturing. It is the first time that a wind turbine blade section has been made partly from recycled fibers recovered from decommissioned blades, marking a crucial step toward a zero-waste wind industry.

About Gjenkraft

Gjenkraft AS develops and operates technology for recycling composite waste, with a primary focus on wind turbine blades. The company’s patent-pending pyrolysis process makes it possible to recycle nearly 100% of the materials into new raw materials, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the need for virgin material extraction.

Contacts:
Svein Tore Torvund, CFO, Gjenkraft AS – svein@gjenkraft.com – +47 99 20 64 52

Arvid Lønne, Chairman of the Board, Gjenkraft AS – arvid@ltpartner.no – +47 46 84 69 80

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