What happens to decommissioned wind turbines and blades? Some are finding new life as buildings.

What happens to decommissioned wind turbines and blades? Some are finding new life as buildings.

Europe is on track for a record wind year, with 8.8 GW of new capacity installed in the first half of 2026 – a 30 per cent jump year on year.

That’s enough electricity to power around seven million European households and replace fossil fuel imports equivalent to 25 LNG tankers a year, according to industry nonprofit WindEurope.

But every turbine that goes up eventually means one coming down – and manufacturers are still working out how to make sure none of the materials go to waste.

    • ItWasTheDNS@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      3 小时前

      But they’re at least much larger and better built - all the “new” containers you can buy in the use are built as one trip containers in China - sure they seem in good condition, but their longevity is suspect.

  • Einskjaldi@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    4 小时前

    The blades aren’t worth much, you can probably just shred it and turn it into fiberglass insulation.

    • adarza@lemmy.caEnglish
      24·
      7 小时前

      Four metres wide, 10 metres long and three metres high,

      this one is larger (by about 25%, and excluding the also higher ceiling) than my walk-up apartment.

    • Greyghoster@aussie.zoneEnglish
      3·
      6 小时前

      There seems to be a big market for tiny homes among older single people especially women. Like containers, there should be no problem in linking a couple or pods to create a bigger space.

    • Kowowow@lemmy.caEnglish
      5·
      8 小时前

      An interesting guest house if nothing else though if want to set up plumbing

      • plateee@piefed.socialEnglish
        8·
        8 小时前

        It’s the perfect guest house. Separate from the main house and not comfortable for long term visits.

    • NaibofTabr@infosec.pubEnglish
      19·
      7 小时前

      By the time one of these housings is getting phased out, the turbine design is years or decades out of date. The internal components are all going to be different. The exterior of the housing is also part of the airflow design.

      Considering the amount of torque being applied to the components in the housing by the rotor, it probably wouldn’t be safe to drill new mounting holes in an old housing to fit a new generator &etc.