Veolia reports boost in windmill blade diversion activity

The Veolia North America business unit of France-based Veolia Environnement S.A. says its efforts to divert wind turbine blades from landfills has gained momentum, with the turbine blade processing taking place at a Veolia facility in Louisiana, Missouri.

In late 2020, Veolia announced a multiyear agreement with Schenectady, New York-based GE Renewable Energy to collect blades removed from its onshore turbines and process them for consumption in cement kilns. The blades are made of fiberglass blended with other materials.

Since the program’s launch, Veolia has collected and processed more than 2,800 wind turbine blades and says the embedded energy in the blades allows them to replace other raw materials used in kilns, thus “significantly cutting back on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.”

Blades on wind turbines typically are replaced during upgrades and repowering efforts. Repowering can involve partial dismantling plus refurbishing of existing wind turbines and the commissioning of the restored versions.

According to Veolia, when end-of-life turbine blades are consumed in kilns, it results in a nearly 30 percent net reduction in CO₂ emissions from cement production.

On average, the company says nearly 90 percent of the blade material will be suitable for consumption in a cement kiln.

“By adding wind turbine blades—which are primarily made of fiberglass—to replace raw materials for cement manufacturing, we are reducing the amount of coal, sand and minerals that are needed to produce the cement, ultimately resulting in greener cement that can be used for a variety of products," Bob Cappadona of Veolia North America said at the time of the GE announcement in late 2020.