SusWIND partners and supporters

“As managers of the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, we’re working closely with government, industry and stakeholders to help enable the sustainable, coordinated growth of UK offshore wind. We’re delighted to support SusWIND, which offers an opportunity to help translate the important principles of circular economy, already being considered across our real estate portfolio, to further boost the environmental sustainability of wind turbines offshore.”​

Adrian Fox, Head of Offshore Assets, The Crown Estate

“We want to leave the Earth a better place than we found it. That is why our vision is to become a global leader in sustainable energy solutions and why we are to become sustainable in everything we do. We have committed ourselves to four sustainability objectives. One of these four is to produce zero-waste wind turbines by 2040 and addressing the specific challenge on recyclability of composite turbine blades is key to achieving this. We are excited to be a part of the SusWIND programme, and as founding members of the NCC we are confident that this initiative will drive technology forward to help solve this challenge that we all face.”​

Lisa Ekstrand, Senior Director and Head of Sustainability, Vestas

"As we strive to achieve net zero, offshore wind capacity globally is set to grow rapidly to meet our low carbon energy needs. It’s therefore vital that we work to minimise the direct impact on our environment and look for new and innovative ways to recycle the existing fleet of wind turbines and their blades. We must also work at the same time to future-proof technology for the next generation through the use of composites or more environmentally friendly and sustainable materials. We are pleased to be working on SusWIND to solve this major industry technology challenge."​

Dr Stephen Wyatt, Research and Innovation Director, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult

“Harnessing the abundant supplies of wind energy in and around the UK and Ireland is one of the most important contributions SSE Renewables can make in the race to net zero. The sustainable use of the world’s resources and reducing the impact of our activities on the natural environment is just as critical. That’s why SusWIND is so important to us – as well as improving the sustainability of wind turbine blades already in use, this national initiative will help deliver a next generation of blades that can be recycled at the end of their life. In doing so we can build a truly sustainable supply chain for the wind industry in every sense.”

Jim Smith, Managing Director, SSE Renewables

“Sustainability is at the heart of what drives the renewables industry. We regularly see old turbines from the UK being given a second life through re-use in other countries and we’re starting to see reprocessing of turbine blades, for example in the manufacture of concrete. SusWIND is a welcome initiative to boost sustainability, recycling and reprocessing of turbines as the industry gears up to help deliver the UK’s net zero emissions target.”​

Luke Clark, Director of Strategic Communications, RenewableUK

"We are committed to delivering more and cleaner energy solutions responsibly. As part of this commitment, we are developing sustainable and low carbon design innovations such as using reused and recycled materials in our products, buildings and infrastructure that reduce the carbon intensity of our Retail operations and help drive the transition to a circular economy. Shell is a key partner with the NCC and we are excited to see the benefits that the SusWIND initiative will bring and how recycled materials from decommissioned blades might be reused, for instance to create new customer offers at retail forecourts. This is particularly important as we continue our ambition to supply clean energy for electric vehicle charging."​

Daniel Kunkel, General Manager,  Global Retail Network Engineering, Shell

"The wind industry has achieved huge successes over the years in-part due to its great “can do” attitude. The sector is a huge force towards a clean energy future and wind turbines have a really low impact on the climate, compared to other forms of electricity generation. However, finding better ways to use blades at the end of their operational life is now a “must do” for the industry – through collaboration, we can make it happen.”​

Bruce Valpy, Managing Director, BVG Associates

"A commitment to sustainability and delivering a low-carbon future that we can all be proud of is at the core of everything we do. As a business and as part of the wider wind industry we continue to invest in and drive innovation as a means of delivering sustainable growth. We’re very proud to support SusWIND and ensure that turbine blades are recycled as efficiently as possible. At the same time, we’re hugely excited about the potential of composite technologies to future-proof the wind farms of tomorrow – helping the UK drive down its carbon emissions and deliver net-zero.” 

Don Mackay, Chief Technical Officer, EDF Renewables

"The Net Zero Technology Centre purpose is to develop and deploy technology to deliver a net zero North Sea. We work cross sector to maximise the potential of an integrated offshore energy system with a vision to reimagine the North Sea. As we transition to this new energy future, it is critical we address the full cycle sustainability of the system. The SusWIND program looks not only at creating new sustainable materials but also at the recycling and reuse of existing materials. This will enable the emerging new integrated energy system to apply the key principles of a circular economy and ensure its long term sustainability."

Luca Corradi, Director, Net Zero Technology Centre 

“It’s our ambition to be a world-class player in the energy transition and we’re building our renewables business to generate more energy, with less emissions. That means carefully considering every component of our projects, making the best choices at the very start and then planning for the reuse or recycling of those parts when the time comes. We know that the work to reduce the future impact of our projects must be done now and success will have an impact not just on wind projects in the UK, but around the world. We’re very pleased to be part of SusWIND and to contribute to, and benefit from, this critical programme.”

Philippe de Cacqueray, Managing Director, Renewables UK for TotalEnergies

“At Owens Corning, sustainability is fundamental to who we are and how we operate. The linear production model — sourcing raw materials, manufacturing products, and discarding those products at the end of their use – doesn’t work anymore, for business or humanity. Finding viable, alternative re-uses for composite wind blades at the end of their operational lives is a critical part of our journey toward a circular economy, and we look forward to working with our partners in the SusWIND initiative to achieve this together.”

Wouter De Clercq, Managing Director Composites Europe Owens Corning

“Our recent ScotWind leasing round has resulted in an exciting pipeline of offshore wind projects with the potential to make a major contribution to the energy transition. We’re pleased to be joining the SusWind programme and contributing to work to ensure the sustainability of the sector.”

Ben Miller, Development Manager, Crown Estate Scotland

“Unlocking the potential of increasing circularity is embedded in our sustainability framework, and membership of SusWIND is another exciting programme that can contribute to our journey. As we develop our global offshore wind pipeline, we want to keep materials in use for longer and value them throughout their life cycle. Given the growing significance of wind power to the future of energy, it is vital that sustainability principles are embedded throughout the supply chain. I am excited about the potential for knowledge sharing with fellow members of SusWIND, as well as the innovative mindset that bp can bring to the table.”

Giles Mackey, Head of Health, Safety and Sustainability for Offshore Wind, bp