Northern Ireland firms turn old wind turbine blades into reusable products

Two Northern Ireland companies are working together to transform decommissioned wind turbine blades into sustainable products, the BBC reported, addressing a growing environmental challenge as thousands of turbines reach the end of their useful life.

According to the BBC, thousands of tonnes of wind turbine blade material are expected to require replacement by 2030. Over the next 15 years, more than 400 turbines in Northern Ireland alone will need replacing. Currently, the blades largely go to landfill or incineration because they are made of non-recyclable material.

Plaswire Ltd in Lurgan, County Armagh, is now recycling blades from Bellacorrick wind farm in County Mayo – the island of Ireland's first commercial wind farm, which was decommissioned earlier this year. The company is also processing blades from offshore wind farms.

Andrew Billingsley, Chief Executive of Plaswire Ltd, told the BBC that the disused blades can be turned into reusable material for fence posts and transport pallets. He described the blade waste issue as "colossal," noting that around 125,000 tonnes of blades worldwide are currently disposed of, "very rarely in a sustainable way."

Research by Queen's University Belfast has also shown that decommissioned blades could be safely used to build bridges and other street furniture.