Quantification of End-of-Life Wind Turbines Waste in the Italian Context. Perspectives and Challenges
摘要
Wind installations around the world are expanding rapidly because of their crucial role in the energy transition. In order to ensure the sustainability of the wind sector, the disposal of wind turbines should be implemented according to the principles of circularity. Currently, the first wind turbines installed in Europe have reached the End-of-life stage, requiring innovative solutions to manage the decommissioned materials. In Italy, the installed wind power capacity is one of the largest in Europe. Despite this large application, there are no systematic estimates of the material flows generated by the disposal of wind turbines. This study provides an overview of wind farms in the Italian territory with the objectives of quantifying the flows of the main materials that can be generated by the disposal of installed wind turbines by power class. The implemented methodology involves the integration of information provided by reports and open-source databases related to the installations. Successively, the evaluation of the materials used in turbines was conducted by consulting LCA analyses and scientific papers. It is projected that the dismantling of Italian wind turbines will produce more steel and iron. The study also shows that it can be advantageous to establish treatment plants in Southern regions, incentivizing the creation of companies and job opportunities. However, the novelty of the topic limits the availability of accurate data and prevents a widespread analysis of material flows, slowing the circular transition of wind energy.