GDES Circularity launches a new wind turbine blade cutting and recovery service
The new solution combines GDES Circularity’s expertise in circular economy with GDES Wind’s specialization in blade maintenance and repair to deliver a comprehensive service for the management and recovery of decommissioned wind turbine blades.
GDES Circularity, the GDES Group division specialized in circular economy and sustainable waste management, has developed a new wind turbine blade cutting and recovery service to address the growing need for end-of-life blade management, particularly in wind farm repowering projects.
The solution combines GDES Circularity’s capabilities in large-component segmentation, logistics and waste management with GDES Wind’s technical expertise in blade inspection, maintenance and repair. As a result, both companies have designed an on-site cutting system that enables operations to be carried out efficiently, safely and according to the specific requirements of each location.
The service covers the entire process, from blade segmentation at the customer’s facilities to transportation, traceability and final material recovery through specialized waste management partners. It also provides full documentation certifying the proper management of the materials.
One of the main advantages of the solution is the possibility of performing cutting operations on-site, significantly reducing the logistical complexity associated with transporting complete blades. In addition, the system incorporates diamond blade cutting technology, particle control and containment solutions, as well as specific measures to minimize the environmental impact of operations.
Interior view of a wind turbine blade section after segmentation for subsequent transportation and material recovery as part of the new service developed by GDES Circularity.
Reference project: Comprehensive blade recycling for NORDEX at the Port of Bilbao
GDES is already applying this solution for NORDEX at Terminal A6 of the Port of Bilbao, within the facilities of Toro y Betolaza.
The project includes the comprehensive management of several 65-meter blades that have been removed from service. GDES Circularity teams are responsible for on-site cutting operations, conditioning, logistics, traceability and recovery of the reclaimed materials, ensuring efficient management aligned with circular economy principles. Thanks to this approach, the recovered materials can be redirected to new industrial applications, maximizing resource utilization and reducing waste generation.
Through this project, the GDES Group strengthens its ability to deliver specialized solutions to the wind energy sector, combining technical expertise, operational experience and sustainable materials management to address one of the key challenges associated with the end-of-life phase of wind turbines.