‘More partners in the chain, more value for the client’
DecomCockpit is making wind farms circular
In the coming years hundreds of wind turbines in the Netherlands will reach the end of their life cycles. This raises an important question: what happens to all their component once they are dismantled? DecomCockpit, a consortium consisting of ECHT, Jansen Recycling Group, Circular Recycle Company and Sif, is working on one joint solution to make onshore and offshore wind farms circular. “For years we have pored over the question of how we can make materials processing circular, possible and profitable.”
How do you process a wind farm without losing its value?
About 10% of removed wind turbines end up in waste plants or in incinerators. The turbines’ blades are particularly difficult to make circular. “It is sometimes hard to find out what happens to the parts after dismantling,” says Maarten Lobregt of ECHT.
DecomCockpit is addressing this by creating a complete recycling chain. Every partner works on its own link in the chain. ECHT uses material passports to check which parts can be reused or repaired. In cases where this is not possible, the consortium looks at recycling options.
Jansen Recycling Group does high-value steel sorting and recycling and makes the turbine blades smaller. Circular Recycle Company has a recycling technology for this complex material stream. Sif adds capacity to also process offshore foundations.
“All four of us are front-runners in sustainability.”
From separate cogs to one chain
DecomCockpit’s strength lies in collaboration. Wind farm owners do not need to find solutions for each material stream, but can approach the consortium that combines advice, inspections, and materials processing.
This is important as circular processing not only needs to be possible technically, but also profitable. By combining knowledge, capacity, and technology, an approach is created in which value is better maintained and material streams more transparent.
The idea for DecomCockpit emerged in 2021 after discussions between various entities in the maritime and circular ecosystem. The right companies were brought together, the shared proposition was defined, and the first subsidy applications followed. One of these was through the Innovation Programme Energy & Climate, an initiative of the Province of South Holland, the Rotterdam The Hague Metropolitan Area, TNO and InnovationQuarter. A shared goal thus grew into a functioning consortium.
Peter Roest of Jansen Recycling Group says that “They know how to stimulate collaboration and, particularly at the start, take the lead.” Maarten adds that “We really benefited from their support, especially on issues around subsidies. They know how to do this smartly.”
Expanding the network
The current consortium has a strong foundation. The next step is to further expand the network with partners who share the same sustainability goals. They could be cable processors, contractors, and crane companies that dismantle turbines sustainably. But can also include knowledge and research institutions.
“The collaboration means that we phone each other more easily,” says Maarten. “With even more partners in the chain we create more added value for each other and for clients.”
Expansion is needed as demand is growing fast. In the next five years about 400 wind turbines in the Netherlands will reach the end of their life cycles. So the focus is on growth and standardization. There are many different material passports in circulation. By working towards one clear approach, DecomCockpit strives to create continuity and make circular processing scalable more easily.
Do you want to move forward with a chain of partners?
DecomCockpit shows how a circular impact emerges when companies bring together their knowledge, technology, and capacity.
What is now possible
Processing wind farms jointly is the first step. In the end, DecomCockpit should grow into the go-to entity that clients immediately contact for advice, inspections, and materials processing.
This means that circularity is not only something that starts after dismantling, but a fixture on the whole chain. From understanding materials to reuse, repair, and recycling.
Are you also ready to move to international chains of collaboration?
Circular innovation often requires more than one company. In the case of complex material streams, impact only happens when entities cluster their knowledge, technology, and capacity. Find the opportunities to bring your sustainable innovation closer to implementation.
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