<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/taking-down-wind-turbines-can-be-an-explosive-issue-but-australia-is-helping-to-spearhead-solutions/>
"There are three ways to bring down a wind turbine: delicately un-build it with
a crane, cut a wedge from the base and topple it like a tree, or use explosives
to blow it up from the bottom.
These are the options put to Pacific Blue as it looks to decommission its 18.2
megawatt (MW) Codrington wind farm come 2027.
The three methods are what’s currently being used globally for retirement-age
wind farms and are part of a report by renewables consultancy Everoze for
Pacific Blue, to uncover the options in Australia and around the world for
decommissioning and recycling.
“Decommissioning of renewable sites and the responsible recycling of their
components is an important issue being faced here in Australia and right around
the world,” Pacific Blue told Renew Economy on Wednesday.
“Pacific Blue will be at the forefront of responsible decommissioning in
Australia. We are determined to find pioneering solutions that can set an
example for the industry as well as satisfying local expectations.”
Unlike fossil fuel generators, or mines which come with decades of
rehabilitation costs, decommissioning wind farms can actually be a revenue
earner.
That’s a fact which has global companies beginning to show interest in
Australia, which a forthcoming Re-Alliance reports estimates at 85 wind farms
by 2045 containing 3,068 turbines.
Steel scrap prices between $200-400 tonne come close to covering the cost of
decommissioning and materials such as copper inside cables are other sources of
potential revenue, says Everoze partner David Millar.
Already Australia has the facilities and demand to recycle about 95 per cent of
a turbine."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
