Vattenfall Unveils Tiny House Made from Recycled Wind Turbine at Dutch Design Week

Vattenfall Unveils Tiny House Made from Recycled Wind Turbine at Dutch Design Week

(IN BRIEF) Vattenfall and design studio Superuse have converted the nacelle of a decommissioned wind turbine into a compact, sustainable tiny house, which is being showcased at Dutch Design Week. The project demonstrates innovative reuse of turbine materials, featuring modern amenities like solar panels and a heat pump. This initiative is part of Vattenfall’s effort to promote sustainable design by reusing industrial materials, offering a glimpse into future possibilities for repurposing wind turbines set for decommissioning. The tiny house meets building code requirements, highlighting its practicality for residential use.

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 22-Oct-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Vattenfall, in partnership with design studio Superuse, has transformed the nacelle of a decommissioned wind turbine into a compact, eco-friendly tiny house. This innovative project repurposes the top section of a turbine that operated for 20 years in Austria, highlighting the potential for reusing industrial materials in sustainable ways. Measuring four meters wide, ten meters long, and three meters high, the tiny house retains the recognizable exterior of a wind turbine, but its interior has been thoughtfully designed to provide comfortable living with modern amenities, including a kitchen, bathroom, and smart energy features like solar panels, a heat pump, and a solar water heater.

As part of Dutch Design Week, this unique project showcases Vattenfall’s commitment to material reuse, emphasizing that the future demolition of thousands of wind turbines could see their components repurposed for new applications. While many parts of a wind turbine, such as steel and concrete, can be recycled through energy-intensive processes, this project demonstrates how materials can be reused with minimal modifications, reducing energy consumption and emissions.

The tiny house was designed by Superuse, supported by Blade-Made and Woodwave, using the nacelle from a V80 2MW turbine—the first model large enough to accommodate a small living space. Despite the limited size, the house meets building code requirements and is suitable for residential or holiday use. This project reflects the broader potential for repurposing the more than 10,000 similar nacelles set to be decommissioned globally in the coming years.

In addition to the tiny house, Vattenfall’s showcase at Dutch Design Week includes three other projects exploring creative uses for decommissioned turbine parts. These include floating islands made from turbine blades, artwork inspired by turbine data, and a vision for the future reuse of turbine components.

About the nacelle

The nacelle used for construction was taken from a V80 2MW turbine built at the Austrian Gols wind farm in 2005. During 20 years of faithful service, the turbine produced 73GWh of electricity, enough to power more than 29-thousand households for a year. The nacelle stood at a height of 100 metres.

Dutch company Business in Wind decommissioned the wind farm and made the nacelle available for this project.

Media Contact:

Tel: +46 8 739 50 10
Email: press@vattenfall.com

SOURCE: Vattenfall