Wind energy is a cornerstone of climate protection, but the growing volume of end-of-life rotor blades presents a major sustainability challenge. Today, thousands of tons of composite waste are generated annually in Europe, with limited recycling options and strict restrictions on landfill disposal.

Within the RECREATE project, the Fraunhofer IWU and its partners developed a new generation of wind turbine rotor blades designed for circularity. Their approach focuses on modular design, recyclable materials, and innovative joining technologies that allow worn components to be replaced instead of discarding the entire blade.

A key innovation is a replaceable leading edge, the part most exposed to environmental wear. Using detachable adhesive joints, this component can be exchanged when needed, restoring aerodynamic performance and extending the turbine’s service life.

The demonstrator also integrates natural fibre-reinforced thermoplastics, which are better suited for reuse and recycling, along with manufacturing concepts such as pultrusion to enable more automated and cost-efficient production in Europe.

Fraunhofer IWU is presenting this wind turbine demonstrator at IFAT 2026 – Solutions for Water, Recycling and Circularity, taking place in Munich from 4th to 7th May 2026.

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