Nordex Wind Turbine Decommissioning

What Happens to Old Wind Turbine Full System (Oem-Specific)s?

Last reviewed by Marcus Williams on 02 April 2026

Old Nordex Wind Turbine Decommissioning results in either recycling, repurposing, or disposal. Many outdated systems end up in landfills due to lack of viable alternatives, though increasing regulations and recycling initiatives aim to change this.

When a Nordex wind turbine reaches the end of its operational lifespan, it faces several fates: landfill burial, recycling through programmes like Nordex's blade research programme, or repurposing into secondary markets. The choice depends on regional environmental policies and economic factors. Recycling offers a more sustainable solution by recovering valuable materials from components such as fiberglass blades, steel towers, and concrete foundations.

According to the World Economic Forum, e-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream globally.

How Are Wind Turbine Full System (Oem-Specific)s Recycled?

Nordex Wind Turbine Decommissioning involves steps like blade recycling research, turbine refurbishment for resale, and scrap metal recovery. The process starts with dismantling the entire system to extract usable materials from different parts.

For Nordex blades, the company's dedicated research programme explores methods to break down fiberglass composites into reusable components. This approach contrasts with direct landfill disposal, aiming to reduce waste volume while preserving raw materials. Additionally, Nordex turbines that still have some life left can be refurbished and sold on secondary markets. The steel and copper within towers and generators are also recovered and resold as scrap metal.

According to the Apple Environmental Report 2024, apple recovered over 1 tonne of gold from recycled devices in 2023.

What Does Wind Turbine Decommissioning Cost?

Decommissioning a single Nordex wind turbine costs between $150,000 and $500,000 depending on the size of the system and regional regulations. Higher costs often stem from strict environmental policies requiring more thorough recycling methods.

The cost varies significantly based on several factors including the specific model of the turbine, geographical location, and compliance with local waste management laws. For instance, stricter EU regulations can drive up expenses by mandating expensive recycling processes over cheaper landfill options. The range reflects both basic dismantling costs and additional fees for environmental compliance measures.

According to the Royal Society of Chemistry, mobile phones contain up to 60 different elements, including critical raw materials.

What Materials Are Recovered?

Nordex Wind Turbine Decommissioning recovers materials such as fiberglass blades, steel tower structures, geared generators, and concrete foundations from decommissioned turbines. Each component has different recovery potential based on its composition and recyclability.

Fiberglass blades pose the greatest challenge due to their complex composite nature but initiatives like Nordex's blade recycling research programme aim to address this issue. Steel towers yield significant amounts of metal that can be recycled into new products, while geared generators contain valuable copper wiring. Concrete foundations are typically crushed for use in road construction or other building projects.

Regulations on Wind Turbine Waste

EU member states such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland have implemented bans against landfilling wind turbine blades to encourage recycling efforts. Nordex publishes an annual sustainability report detailing their environmental impact and waste management strategies.

These regulations push companies like Nordex towards more sustainable practices by prohibiting disposal methods that harm the environment. The sustainability reports issued annually by Nordex highlight commitments to reducing waste, improving recyclability of materials, and building a circular economy in wind energy production.

The Wind Waste Problem

Nordex has installed over 10,000 turbines across 40 countries since its founding, with European installations from the early 2000s now reaching their end-of-life stage. This poses significant challenges for waste management and recycling infrastructure.

As these older models reach decommissioning age, the scale of wind turbine waste becomes substantial, necessitating strong recycling solutions. With thousands of Nordex turbines nearing retirement in Europe alone, there's a pressing need to develop efficient and cost-effective methods for handling this growing volume of obsolete equipment.

Sources

• World Economic Forum
• Apple Environmental Report 2024
• Royal Society of Chemistry