New Ideas from Teams Win Wind Turbine Materials Recycling Prize

Jan. 16, 2025

A person in a lab suit cuts into a wind turbine blade

One of six winning teams, Team WIND REWIND engaged University of Maine students, shown here cutting wind turbine blade samples, in their work during the Wind Turbine Materials Recycling Prize. The team developed a technology to use decommissioned wind turbine blades for large-format additive manufacturing. Photo from Reed Miller, WIND REWIND

Thanks to the winners of the Wind Turbine Materials Recycling Prize, innovations are paving the way for a future where wind turbines are a cornerstone of both renewable energy and the economy. The $5.1 million prize, which was launched by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office and is administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, is tackling the challenge of recycling turbine blades and other hard-to-recycle components.

Meet the six teams and learn about their winning projects.