05 October 2023
The National Composites Centre is delighted to announce that bp will be joining the SusWIND programme.
SusWIND is a collaborative innovation programme focused on creating a viable circular economy for wind turbine blades. Launched in 2021 by the NCC, in partnership with the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, the programme focuses on working to accelerate the development of technology, processes and materials that address the recyclability and future development of composite wind turbine blades.
bp has set out an ambition to be a net zero company by 2050 or sooner, and help the world get to net zero. It has a global offshore wind pipeline of 9.3GW net, which includes projects in Germany, the US and UK. In the UK, along with partner EnBW, bp is leading the development of the Morgan and Mona projects in the Irish Sea and Morven in the North Sea. These have a combined potential generating capacity of 5.9GW, sufficient to power the equivalent of around 6 million UK households. In early 2023, bp was successful in its bid to develop its first floating offshore wind demonstration project offshore Aberdeenshire.
Giles Mackey, Head of Health, Safety and Sustainability for Offshore Wind at bp, said:
“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.”
SusWIND is growing a community of stakeholders in the composites industry and energy sector to work towards creating end-of-life value from past and current generations of turbine blades and embedding circularity principles at the heart of future generations of turbines. bp will join existing SusWIND members including Vestas, SSE Renewables, EDF Renewables, Shell, Net Zero Technology Centre, Owens Corning, TotalEnergies, The Crown Estate, RenewableUK, BVG Associates, Zero Waste Scotland and Crown Estate Scotland.
Phil Slack, Head of Energy Generation at the National Composites Centre, said: “SusWIND is committed to seeing that wind turbine blades are an integral part of a functioning circular economy for wind and the wider composites industry. Drawing on deep cross-sector knowledge of composites we will provide insight for our partners, and the wider community, on how alternative materials can replace those traditionally used and improve environmental performance both in manufacture and at end-of-life. By convening the industrial knowledge of SusWIND partners we intend to develop and demonstrate the potential for eliminating waste in production, preserving through-life value, and adopting circular design to help solve end-of-life challenges. We are delighted to welcome bp to the SusWIND programme.”
Composite materials are a key enabler for the success of wind energy and the role that it will play in delivering a low carbon global economy. Developing a circular supply chain for wind turbine blades is the ultimate goal for SusWIND. With a call for support and participation across the full range of industrial sectors to grow a community of stakeholders, organisations interested in joining the programme can express interest here.
