American-Made Challenges: Wind Turbine Materials Recycling Prize. Phase 1: Informational Webinar

This is an informational webinar to support the Wind Turbine Materials Recycling Prize. Overview: Wind energy deployment in the United States is projected to see significant growth to meet the nation's decarbonization goals by 2050. As wind turbine manufacturing accelerates, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proactively considering the life cycle of wind turbines, specifically after they are eventually decommissioned. About 85%-90% of the mass of a wind turbine is made of materials that can already be commercially recycled. The bulk of the unrecycled materials are fiber-reinforced composites (carbon fiber and fiberglass). These materials can be found in various forms in wind turbine blades, nacelle covers, and the cover for the hub that connects the blades to the wind turbine. The wind energy industry also depends on critical minerals, such as rare earth elements (including neodymium and dysprosium used in generators), which do not currently have domestic commercial-scale recycling options.