In the Swedish city of Lund, a parking garage has opened that has already drawn the notice of architects and environmentalists across Europe. This is the region’s first structure to incorporate recycled wind turbine blades into its facade design. The project has become a clear illustration of how “green” energy waste can gain a second existence.
Parking from Windmills
The new multi-story vehicle storage facility was named after Niels Bohr and is situated in the Brunnshög area, which is undergoing active development. For the external finishing, fifty-seven rotor blades were utilized, taken from a decommissioned wind farm, Nørre Økse Sø in Denmark. The energy firm Vattenfall manages the facility.
The blades do not serve a load-bearing purpose. They were employed as cladding panels, obscuring a significant portion of the exterior walls. This approach allowed the structural integrity of the building to be maintained while simultaneously showcasing the possibility of reusing complex industrial materials.
“This is a highly successful concept and a truly beautiful structure,” noted Anne Mette Træber, Vattenfall’s regional director in Denmark.
Why Blades Are Difficult to Recycle
Wind turbine blades are considered one of the most challenging components of the machinery regarding disposal. They are constructed from composites based on fiberglass and carbon fiber, engineered to endure decades exposed to rain, wind, and sun. These materials are sturdy and light but resist conventional recycling methods almost entirely.
In many nations, such blades are still simply buried in landfills. This fact particularly interested architect Jonas Lloyd, who was involved in the endeavor.
“I read that in the U.S., the blades are often just buried, and I thought they could find a much more beneficial use. This is not just an ecological issue, but also a waste of resources,” he shared.
Lloyd’s proposal was backed by the municipal company Lunds kommunala parkeringsbolag. Consequently, Lund now has a five-story parking building with 365 spaces. The facility includes forty charging spots for electric vehicles and an energy storage battery system.
The facade is enhanced with vegetation that attracts pollinating insects, and solar panels are mounted on the roof. During the day, they gather power, which is then used at night to recharge the vehicles.
“It is important to me that the building has become a monument to sustainable progress. We wanted to demonstrate that eco-friendly solutions can be more than an abstract notion; they can be a tangible component of the urban landscape,” Lloyd emphasized.
An Industry Model
For Vattenfall, this undertaking served as a clear exhibition of the circular economy, where discards acquire a new purpose instead of heading to the dump. The company operates over 1,400 wind turbines in Europe and has committed to recycling all its blades by 2030. Burying such waste in dumps is already prohibited by the company’s internal regulations.
Currently, Vattenfall is experimenting with transforming blade materials into insulation components, elements for photovoltaic panels, and even sporting equipment.
“This is compelling proof that durable solutions can meet standards for cost, schedule, and safety,” stated Træber.
Not all the provided blades have found applications yet. LKP has already initiated a call for ideas regarding their future employment.
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