Blades, tower, generators, foundations… what happens to each component of a wind turbine once it’s been dismantled?
Watch a video to find out how the various components of a wind turbine are recycled and recovered.
Repowering
Decommissioning and repowering of wind farms
Since the early 2000s, wind turbines have seen significant technological developments in various areas: power and performance of generators, materials used, predictive maintenance, acoustics, reliability, integration to the grid etc. Thanks to these advances, it is now possible to install wind turbines that can produce four times more electricity, or even more, than models manufactured twenty years ago.
Kallista Energy has therefore committed to gradually replacing its first-generation wind turbines with more high-performance models. This initiative includes a threefold objective: optimising the production of renewable energy on the sites with the most wind in France; producing electricity at the most competitive price possible; and giving the communities where the wind farms are located, as well as Kallista Energy itself, visibility for the next 20 years. Even if the current wind turbines are still functional, we can optimise the production of renewable electricity by using high-performance materials over time if we upgrade and repower the plants.
The 3 objectives of renewal
- Optimize the production of renewable electricity at France’s windiest sites,
- Produce the most competitive electricity possible,
- Give the regions where the wind farms are located, as well as Kallista Energy, a new 20-year visibility.
Even if today’s wind turbines are still in working order, we optimize the production of renewable electricity with high-performance equipment over time by renewing the wind farms.
Our commitment: the complete removal of all concrete foundation blocks
Since 2020, the law requires the complete excavation of concrete foundations for wind turbines except in cases where the environmental balance sheet is unfavourable, without the dismantling target being less than 1 metre (Order of 2 June 2020).
Kallista Energy had committed to the complete removal of all foundation blocks of old wind turbines since 2017. The land is restored to its natural state or can be used for farming again.
Watch the testimony of the mayor of Lanfains
In 2021, the wind turbines at Lanfains will be replaced by more efficient models. With 6 wind turbines (compared with 5 previously), the new wind farm produces 60% more local, renewable electricity than the old one. It meets the equivalent electricity needs of around 9,000 inhabitants*.
“The renewal of our wind farms has a triple objective. Firstly, to optimize the production of renewable electricity on France’s windiest sites, which were among the first to be exploited. Secondly, to produce the most competitive electricity possible, since wind power has undergone significant technological leaps. Lastly, the renewal of the installations gives the territories where the wind farms are located, as well as Kallista Energy, a new 20-year visibility.”
Frédéric Roche
President Kallista Energy Group
“The Trébry wind farm was one of the very first to be developed in this part of the département. At the time, it was a curiosity, and we had an impressive parade of cars during the construction site. […] The wind farm has a positive effect on the town’s image. It shows our commitment to sustainable development. […] When I heard that the new wind turbines would produce 30% more electricity, I was convinced by the renewal project. We need to continue developing renewable energies to improve our region’s energy autonomy.”
Daniel Commault
Mayor of Trébry (Brittany) since 2020
“I live 500 meters from the wind farm, and I can watch over the turbines from my veranda! Today, wind turbines are as much a part of our landscape as any other building. We’ve even put a wind turbine in the header of our municipal newsletter to show that we’re proud of this wind farm. […] As far as renewal is concerned, as long as the turbines remain in the commune, I have no problem with that. The wind farm brings in tax revenues, which have been used to fund a number of projects in the commune, such as the construction of a multi-accueil center and a new water treatment plant, the restoration of the church, etc.”
Gérard Mérot
Mayor of Lanfains (Brittany) since 2008
Case study:
Renewal of the Plouyé wind farm in Brittany.
4x more renewable electricity with the same number of wind turbines
1st renewal with complete dismantling of old wind turbines in France
Plouyé is a commune in Brittany, about an hour from Brest.
Thanks to its high wind potential, it was one of the first communes in France to host a wind farm. At the time, 4 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 0.75 MW, were installed.
In 2017, Kallista Energy, owner and operator of the wind farm, replaced these turbines with more efficient models, with the support of Enercon and local companies.
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The 4 new wind turbines, with a capacity of 2.3 MW, now produce 4x more electricity. By way of comparison, it would have been necessary to install 16 wind turbines like those that made up the original park to achieve the output of the new park. Renewing the wind turbines therefore enables real optimization of production without increasing the number of machines.
The old turbines were dismantled and sent for recycling. All the old foundations were removed and recycled.
Wind turbine dismantling: a safe process with no surprises for future generations
The dismantling of the Plouyé wind farm in Brittany confirms that this process is perfectly mastered and safe for the environment.
It took just one week to dismantle each wind turbine and remove its foundation. All the components of the wind turbines have been recycled in various ways.
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In addition, the law requires the wind farm owner to guarantee financial responsibility for dismantling the turbines as soon as they are installed. The wind farm owner must provide a financial guarantee for each wind turbine.
In this way, the dismantling of the Plouyé wind farm in Brittany will not have cost the community a single cent. The same will apply to all other wind farms to be renewed by Kallista Energy.
100% of a wind turbine can be recycled or recovered
The second life of wind turbine components
- Mast & cables: metal structures are recycled by scrap dealers.
- Nacelles & blades: made of fiberglass, they are crushed for use as fuel in cement works or as fill in road construction…
- Foundations: once levelled, the concrete is crushed for use as fill.
- Multiplier & generator: these are recycled as spare parts, as are the components of the delivery substation…