What happens to wind turbine blades once their job is done?

What Happens to Wind Turbine Blades After They Die? | Dr. Paul Leahy

In this eye-opening talk, Dr. Paul Leahy explores the overlooked challenge of turbine waste and introduces an innovative solution: repurposing blades into bridges and infrastructure. Through innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, we discover how the end of a blade’s life can mark the beginning of a new purpose—and why this shift is essential for a greener future. Paul Leahy is a Senior Lecturer in Wind Energy Engineering at University College Cork, Ireland, and an Investigator at the MaREI Centre for Energy, Climate, and Marine Research. He leads research on sustainable energy and carbon dynamics. As a leader of the international Re-Wind project, he addressed the challenge of decommissioned wind turbine blades by repurposing them into new structures. In 2022, he co-founded BladeBridge, a startup that transforms turbine blades into green infrastructure such as e-bike charging hubs and street furniture. Paul is also a member of the Climate Change & Environmental Sciences Multidisciplinary Committee of the Royal Irish Academy and serves on the Steering Group of the International Energy Agency Wind Task 45, focusing on recycling wind turbine blades. His work is at the forefront of sustainable engineering and environmental innovation.