EnergyLOOP By Inerdrola and FCC Ambito To Recycle Wind Turbine Blades In Spain

EnergyLOOP will recycle the renewable components of the wind turbine blades for reuse in as many sectors as possible solving the long term challenges facing Spain. Launched by Iberdrola and FCC Ámbito, EnergyLoop is an initiative meant for energy transition and ensure circular economy in Spain gearing up for installation of the first blade recycling plant in Navarra, a strategic location due to its proximity to some of the main wind farms in the country and with good connections to other regions with abundant wind farms.

The Spanish wind industry, world leader with more than 28 GW of installed capacity, will need to recycle or reuse significant amounts of wind turbines before other countries. It is estimated that in Europe, in 2030, some 5,700 wind turbines will be dismantled per year, from the repowering of wind farms or facilities that are reaching the end of their useful life. owing to their composite material components, wind turbine blades have been very difficult to recycle till date.

First of its kind on as big scale as this in Europe, the installation will place Spain at the technological forefront of this industry. In addition, it will contribute to the creation of an innovative and dynamic value chain. EnergyLOOP expects to create some 100 direct and indirect jobs throughout the decade and plans to invest some 10 million euros in the first installation.

Besides, EnergyLOOP will contribute to the transformation of the wind energy sector into a true circular economy by investing in integrated blade recycling solutions. This initiative will also improve its competitiveness and sustainability through the research and application of new recycling technologies, which will make it possible to absorb the growing amounts of waste and adopt increasingly efficient solutions.

The project will work on the different stages that allow the circularity of wind turbine blades, including on-site pretreatment and conditioning, waste transport logistics, recycling technologies and the sale of recycled products.