Turbine blades repurposed as canopies for Dundee electric vehicle hub

Old turbine blades are getting a second wind as part of the development of a new electric vehicle hub.

In what’s believed to be first-of-its-kind for public use, disused blades have been repurposed as canopies.

They now sit above a soon-to-open charging unit in Dundee, helping solve the problem of what exactly you do with wind turbines when they no longer work.

“Previously if a blade came down early then it would probably have to be disposed through landfill,” said Fiona Lindsay from ReBlade, a company which specialises in repurposing used blades.

“The composite materials are really strong and tough. That’s by design because they have to work very hard.

“A turbine blade is turning for millions of rotations, in all weathers.”

Wind turbines have a lifespan of around 25 years.

ReBlade cuts turbine blades down to around a third of their original size, before adapting them for their new use.

“That’s a real, strong example of how you can use existing renewable assets which have powered our net zero journey and electricity,” said SSE’s public affairs and policy manager Ben Walker.

“Then repurpose them to support other parts of our net zero journey, particularly decarbonisation of transport.”