THE reuse, refurbishment, and reengineering of broken wind turbine parts could create 20,000 UK jobs and a multi-billion pound supply chain, a new coalition has said.
CWIC, the new Coalition for Wind Industry Circularity, has launched to drive the creation of a circular supply chain for renewables in the UK.
It said that ‘tens of billions of pounds’ could be generated for the UK economy through broken wind turbine parts, with 20,000 full-time jobs being created by 2035, and more than 80,000 tonnes being prevented from being scrapped.
The group, which so far comprises energy company SSE Renewables, the University of Strathclyde, the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), and Renewable Parts Ltd, made the statement as they launched CWIC, the new Coalition for Wind Industry Circularity.
Typically, when wind turbine parts fail or reach the end of their life, they are replaced by new components, with old parts mostly ending up as scrap. CWIC aims to change this, and establish a UK-based industry capable of moving towards a circular approach for replacing onshore and offshore wind components. It said this will not only be ‘critical’ for meeting net-zero ambitions and supporting energy security, but also will create thousands of jobs, and support economic growth in local communities.
Analysis, commissioned by the coalition and undertaken by BVG Associates, found around 120,000 wind turbines are forecast to be operational across the UK, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden by 2035.
CWIC has also released what it said is the ‘most extensive research ever undertaken’ on the barriers to circularity in the wind industry, with the research being being undertaken by the University of Strathclyde and the National Manufacturing Institute of Scotland. The research found most organisations were supportive of the circular economy but struggled with implementation.
At Tuesday’s launch event for the coalition, manufacturers of wind turbines globally – Vestas, GE Renewables, Nordex and Enercon – came together in Glasgow to participate in a panel discussion chaired by chief executive of trade body Scottish Renewables, Claire Mack, to provide openness on shared challenges and the need for greater collaboration across the industry.
A ‘greenprint’ for this new Coalition outlines how this collaboration can develop, with clear ambitions and actions which CWIC will aim to deliver.
Stephen Wheeler, MD of SSE Renewables, said, “If the renewables sector exists to deliver the green energy the world needs for net zero, then we must face an uncomfortable truth: we can’t be sustainable without fighting climate change, but we can fight climate change in an unsustainable way. That’s why at SSE Renewables we are looking towards the principles of circularity to support a sustainable business model.
“As a company we have already seen the direct commercial benefits from implementing circular solutions – from lower upfront costs to significantly reduced lead time for parts. And, as the new analysis from BVG Associates published today shows, there is massive potential from putting this approach on steroids – and create billions of pounds for the UK economy, support thousands of high-skilled local jobs, and prevent hundreds of thousands of tonnes of parts from being scrapped.”
Sir Jim McDonald, principal and vice chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, added, “With the university-operated National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, NMIS, we are further able to help Scotland and the wider UK address the manufacturing and engineering challenges that will support the transition to net zero, whilst also preparing businesses for digital transformation and adopting new technology. Collectively, Strathclyde and NMIS will leverage the knowledge and expertise gained from delivering several large-scale joint government-industry-academia programmes across sectors to maximise the pace and scale of impact from working with partners to support the nationally important wind sector.”
James Barry, CEO of Renewables Parts, said, “The wind industry has led the UK’s green energy transition so far, but as we look forwards, the development of a green and sustainable supply chain will mark a new and important chapter in the growth of wind power.
“Our collective commitment to net zero means parts reuse must become the norm, not the exception. By rigorously applying circular economy philosophy, we can develop the technology to routinely remanufacture used parts and reduce carbon intensity.”
