DNV’s ReWind Pilot Demonstrates Cost and Time Savings in Wind Turbine Decommissioning

DNV’s ReWind Pilot Demonstrates Cost and Time Savings in Wind Turbine Decommissioning

(IN BRIEF) DNV has successfully piloted ReWind, a digital service aimed at enhancing the sustainability of wind turbine decommissioning. The pilot involved seven customers across seven countries, resulting in significant time and cost savings compared to traditional methods. ReWind automates the generation of decommissioning plans based on user-provided data, addressing the growing need for sustainable solutions in the wind power industry.

(PRESS RELEASE) HØVIK, 19-Jan-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — DNV, the leading assurance and risk management provider, has achieved remarkable success with its pilot program for ReWind, a groundbreaking digital service designed to enhance the sustainability of wind turbine decommissioning.

ReWind, an automated tool, generates comprehensive decommissioning plans based on user-provided data, including strategies for recycling wind turbine components such as blades. The pilot, conducted from June to October 2023, engaged seven prominent customers, including industry giants like Ørsted, SSE, and Energia. Together, they contributed 55 projects across seven countries, totaling 7,830 MWs modeled. The results were staggering, with estimated savings of 1,985 workdays and €680,000 compared to traditional non-digital solutions.

As the wind power sector matures, presenting credible decommissioning plans has become imperative for bidding in wind auctions. Currently, decommissioned turbine parts are often buried, posing sustainability challenges. With the looming surge in end-of-life turbines, industry projections indicate a pressing need for sustainable decommissioning solutions. WindEurope forecasts that by 2025, 25 thousand tonnes of turbine blades will require recycling, escalating to 52 thousand tonnes by 2030.

Matthew Geraghty, ReWind Founder at DNV, stressed the importance of sustainable solutions, stating, “The wind power industry faces significant reputational risks without sustainable decommissioning strategies.” Geraghty emphasized the essential role of digitalization in streamlining processes and reducing costs.

ReWind not only optimizes decommissioning but also supports various wind energy applications, including bidding and repowering. It has evolved based on customer feedback, extending services to offshore projects and refining turbine modeling and cost calculations.

Johan Schoovonen, Senior Circularity Specialist at Ørsted and a pilot customer, commended ReWind’s capabilities, stating “We joined ReWind as we saw exciting potential in this new service from DNV. ReWind’s easy to use, market leading decommissioning and recyclability software provides material breakdown assessments of our windfarms along with automated decommissioning cost assessments. We believe this industry leading platform can enable us to calculate the residual value of our assets and maximize the circularity of our projects, whilst unlocking significant time savings.”

DNV’s ReWind team now seeks industry collaboration to advance circularity across wind projects. Geraghty urged stakeholders to embrace digital solutions to enhance sustainability throughout wind turbine lifecycles.

Media contact:

Peter Lovegrove
Media Relations and Video Production Manager, Group
Phone: +47 409 04 294

SOURCE: DNV AS