Visit of LVEA and “Composite Circle” Project Partners to Portugal
The Lithuanian Wind Power Association (LVEA), a partner in the Interreg Baltic Sea Region project “Composite Circle,” organized an international visit to the Enercon wind turbine blade manufacturing facility in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. The visit brought together project partners from Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Denmark.
Wind energy is one of the key pillars of Europe’s energy transition. However, increasing attention is being paid to the sustainable management of end-of-life components. In this context, particular focus is placed on blade recycling and the development of circular economy solutions.
During the visit, the delegation met with Enercon’s blade specialists and gained first-hand insight into design and manufacturing processes, materials used, and technological solutions. Discussions also covered opportunities for recycling composite materials, their potential for reuse, and the importance of digitalization in monitoring the lifecycle of turbine blades.
“Such visits not only enhance understanding of technological processes but also strengthen international dialogue in addressing the increasingly important challenges of blade recycling,” said Edgaras Maladauskas, representative of LVEA.
Enercon, which hosted the delegation, also emphasized the importance of sustainability and long-term solutions within the wind energy sector.
“We are pleased to have welcomed this international delegation and to share our experience. Enercon, a German-owned company and one of the leaders in wind energy technology, manufactures its blades exclusively in Europe. We continuously invest in solutions that ensure a sustainable lifecycle for turbine blades – from design to recycling,” noted Mindaugas Urbonas, representative of Enercon.
The “Composite Circle” project, in which LVEA participates, aims to strengthen transnational cooperation and develop effective solutions for wind turbine blade recycling across the Baltic Sea Region, as well as to establish an ecosystem for blade recycling in Lithuania.
