RWE’s Sofia Offshore Wind Farm has achieved a major industry milestone by becoming the first offshore wind farm in the UK to install recyclable rotor blades.
In partnership with Siemens Gamesa, half of Sofia’s 100 offshore wind turbines are being fitted with 150 pioneering recyclable blades, marking the largest deployment of this innovative blade technology in the world.
The recyclable rotor blades are manufactured at Siemens Gamesa’s factory in Hull and are made using a high-tech resin that allows the blade materials to be separated at the end of their operational life. Once dismantled, the components can be recycled and repurposed into products such as vehicle parts, bicycle helmets, and consumer goods, significantly advancing the circular economy in renewable energy.
This achievement follows a 2023 agreement between RWE and Siemens Gamesa and builds on RWE’s earlier world-first demonstration of recyclable blade technology at its Kaskasi Offshore Wind Farm in Germany. By introducing recyclable blades on a large scale, Sofia sets a new benchmark in sustainable offshore wind development, aligning with global net zero goals.
Thomas Michel, COO of RWE Offshore Wind, emphasized that this initiative reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability and innovation across its renewable energy projects, while Darren Davidson, Vice President of Siemens Energy UK & I and Siemens Gamesa UK, highlighted the installation as a landmark moment for energy technology and UK manufacturing leadership.
Located on Dogger Bank in the central North Sea, 195 kilometers off the UK’s northeast coast, Sofia will be one of the largest offshore wind farms in Europe with an installed capacity of 1.4 gigawatts (GW). The project uses Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 turbines, each with a rotor diameter of 222 meters and 108-meter-long blades.
Once operational in 2026, Sofia will generate enough renewable electricity to power approximately 1.2 million UK homes. Offshore construction is progressing with Siemens Gamesa deploying the Wind Peak vessel, operated by Cadeler out of the Port of Hull.
The large-scale integration of recyclable blades at Sofia underscores RWE’s leadership in renewable energy innovation and Siemens Gamesa’s role as a pioneer in blade technology. The project represents a significant step forward in improving the sustainability of offshore wind, demonstrating how advanced technology and strong partnerships can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future.
GreentechLead.com News Desk