Repowering Onshore Wind Seminar Programme

By 2050, forecasts predict 5,500 turbines will be decommissioned in Scotland, generating more than a million tonnes of materials. At least 85% of a wind turbine can be recycled, creating a unique opportunity to build a supply chain specialising in repowering, refurbishment and reuse of industrial components.

We're standing on the edge of one of the greatest circular economy opportunities the UK has ever seen - so how do we find the long-term, scalable solution which will continue to help Scottish companies to grow economic opportunities created by the end-of-life of a wind farm?

In this session, you'll learn:

• The economic opportunities onshore wind decommissioning in Scotland offers
• The end-of-life options for an onshore wind farm and what we can learn from abroad
• The opportunities available to new entrants and existing firms in Scotland's remanufacturing sector
• The solutions and processes for recycling wind turbine blades at scale - what industry needs to do if its to deal with 16,500+ by 2050

Chair
Finley Becks-Phelps, UK Development Director, Fred. Olsen Renewables

Speakers
Dr Charlotte Stamper, Energy Infrastructure Lead, European Metal Recycling
Carol Sheath, Engineering Programme Manager, Renewable Parts
Roger Salomone, Head of Public Affairs UK & Ireland, Vestas
Hiba Ayaz, Asset Lifecycle Engineering Lead, SSE Renewables  
Euan Hogg, Development Project Manager, RES

Without repowering, over half of Scotland's onshore wind capacity could disappear by 2040. And while policymakers and the public back bringing end-of-life sites back to life, there remain many hurdles to overcome.

Inflationary costs, access to a mature Contracts for Difference (CfD) and shifting attitudes to taller turbines all stand as barriers - but with older machines on the best early sites ready to make way for multi-GW generators, there's much to play for.

So how does industry ensure there is a policy environment which enables repowering and life extension - and how do we capitalise on that to make new and existing wind farms work for Scotland?

In this session, you'll learn:

• The benefits of diversifying revenue streams through the effective replanting of replacement projects
• Gaining the advantages of hybrid operation of co-located sites
• What market mechanisms and CfD need to do to support repowering and life extension
• What must be done to unlock the planning issues facing full and partial repowering and life extension

Chair
Craig Whelton, Consenting Lawyer, Burges Salmon

Speakers
Paul Cantwell, Head of Net-Zero Programmes, National Manufacturing Institute Scotland
Neil Marshall, Advisory Lead - Onshore Wind, Natural Power
Helen Thrasher, Head of Technical, Fred. Olsen Renewables
Fraser Gillies, Managing Partner, Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie

Closing Remarks
Mark Richardson, Senior Policy Manager - Onshore Wind & Consenting, Scottish Renewables