Eco-innovative concepts for the end of offshore wind energy farms lifecycle

Programme 2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB North Sea

Date of latest update: 2025-08-16

Description

Description (EN):

Most wind turbines are designed and certified for a 20–25 year service life. After this period, they have to be decommissioned or the accredited operational lifetime has to be extended, often accompanied by repowering (partial refurbishment).While processes for decommissioning/repowering onshore wind parks are well known, the experience with offshore ones is limited. So far only Ytrre Stengrund (Sweden) and Vindeby (Denmark) have been dismantled, plus 2 single near-shore turbines, namely Windfloat 1 (Portugal) and Hooksiel (Germany) and 4 turbines at the Lely farm (Holland). AN OVERALL SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO THE OFFSHORE WIND FARMS’ END OF LIFECYCLE IS MISSING. THIS PROJECT SHALL CLOSE THIS GAP BY DEVISING AND DEVELOPING ECO-INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS THAT- REDUCE THE DECOMMISSIONIG´S COSTS BY 20% AND ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT BY 25% (MEASURED IN CO2 EQUIVALENTS);- INCREASE THE KNOW-HOW AND EXPERTISE OF NSR INVOLVED STAKEHOLDERS.Research will be validated by demonstration pilots and working tools in the areas of logistics, safety, ship design and up-/re-cycling Innovative and already available technologies will be combined to tackle some of the major aspects of the decommissioning challenge, incl. the optimization of existing (port) off/onshore infrastructure. Transnational working and multidisciplinary cross sector competences will improve framework conditions for innovation and technology transfer in this specific niche area and help the sector become achieve a higher eco-balance.

Achievements (EN):

It is a fact that infrastructural installations have an operational life´s end date after which they must be disposed of or alternatively re-utilised. However, when the DecomTools project was approved in 2018, very few people talked about decommissioning Offshore Wind Farms (OWF). Even more so, the idea of an "eco-innovative" decommissioning was light years away. Now, over four and a half year later, since various turbines have been reaching their 20-25 year life span, the work carried out by the partners has acquired a new dimension and could be of great advantage for relevant actors (energy companies, OWF owners, ports, etc.). The research and tests implemented collaboratively have concerned multiple aspects, from the market and stakeholders analysis to the whole decommissioning process: sustainable technological and logistical requirements, environmentally friendly dismantling, re-cycling and re-powering and, finally and importantly, exploitation of the gained knowledge. The key challenge at the beginning of their path was evidently the lack of best practices with related know-how. The experience of the oil&gas sector and onshore wind farms were taken in primis as available source of potential information upon which to construct guidelines, after adapting, revising and tailoring the approach. The key merit of the project was the ability to draw available (often difficult to obtain) data, merge internal and external technical/professional multidisciplinary skills and apply them to the specific topic to provide quite a comprehensive overview of the complete decom framework, including recommendations for more cost/time efficient, low carbon and safer operations, enhanced Offshore Support Vessels (OSV) and training concepts. The cooperative effort, through various developed tools and simulation scenarios aiming to allow for optimal decom planning and execution, translated into: 19 main reports 1 investment in the port of Oostende (safety fencing for allocated decom area) 53 specialised workshops and 6 conferences 10 Simulation Models 1 Decision Support System 5 Virtual Reality/VR Models 1 blade recycling test + related video 3 e-courses (blade removal/nacelle removal/blade cutting) 13 Master/Bachelor theses and Project profiles 8 scientific papers 4 spin offs (DecomBlades/Ready4Decom/EoLO-HUBs/DecomWind). The project triggered many side initiatives, which shows that the decom issue has now become extremely relevant. However, DecomTools also pinpointed that it is still not simple to achieve cost, time and carbon reduction simultaneously. Certainly there is much potential for saving especially in the logistics, but fluctuating fuel price has still a deep impact on that. Alternative fuels and modern technologies such as the tested VR and DecomTools OSV design will contribute to facilitating the optimisation of decommissioning phases, together with promising recycling & cutting opportunities (e.g. pyrolysis & cryogenic cooling). Overall the project confirmed that a multi-sector collaborative approach across Countries is beneficial to create added value, a competitive market and economically feasible as well environmentally friendly decommissioning solutions, preferably through circular strategies. DecomTools paved the way by transnationally increasing expertise on the matter and jointly providing tools, methodologies. Nevertheless, additional steps should be taken also on a policy or regulatory level. Standardization especially is needed with regard to essential information on process and material flows during dismantling, disassembly and reprocessing after the end of the product’s life, and in their supply to recycling/recovery processes.

Website: http://www.northsearegion.eu/

Thematic information

Renewable energy

Specific Objective: Stimulate the adoption of new products, services and processes to reduce the environmental footprint of regions around the North Sea

Thematic Objective: (06) preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:

Investment Priority: (06g) supporting industrial transition towards a resource- efficient economy, promoting green growth, eco-innovation and environmental performance management in the public and private sectors

Partners (13)

Lead Partner: Hochschule Emden / Leer

Address: Constantiaplatz 4, 26723 Emden, Germany

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.hs-emden-leer.de

Total budget: EUR 990 227.00

ERDF budget: EUR 495 113.00

Stichting New Energy Coalition

Name: Stichting New Energy Coalition

Address: P.O. Box 70017, 9704 AA Groningen, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.newenergycoalition.org

Total budget: EUR 186 450.00

ERDF budget: EUR 93 225.00

De Lauwershorst Groep

Name: De Lauwershorst Groep

Address: Postbus 115, 9350 AC Leek, Netherlands

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.delauwershorst.com

Total budget: EUR 357 697.00

ERDF budget: EUR 178 848.00

Prezero Metaal B.V.

Name: Prezero Metaal B.V.

Address: Haven Z.Z. 21 Postbus 23, 9679 ZG Scheemda, Netherlands

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.prezero.nl

Total budget: EUR 278 725.00

ERDF budget: EUR 139 362.00

Energy Cluster Denmark

Name: Energy Cluster Denmark

Address: Kanalen 1, 6700 Esbjerg, Denmark

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.eicluster.dk

Total budget: EUR 572 803.00

ERDF budget: EUR 286 401.00

Grenaa Havn A/S

Name: Grenaa Havn A/S

Address: Nordre Kajgade 7, 8500 Grenaa, Denmark

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.grenaahavn.dk

Total budget: EUR 290 138.00

ERDF budget: EUR 145 069.00

Hamburgisches WeltWirtschaftsInstitut gemeinnützige GmbH

Name: Hamburgisches WeltWirtschaftsInstitut gemeinnützige GmbH

Address: Oberhafenstraße 1, 20097 Hamburg, Germany

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.hwwi.org

Total budget: EUR 338 400.00

ERDF budget: EUR 169 200.00

Haven Oostende, NV van Publiek Recht

Name: Haven Oostende, NV van Publiek Recht

Address: Slijkensesteenweg 2, 8400 Oostende, Belgium

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.portofoostende.be

Total budget: EUR 502 250.00

ERDF budget: EUR 251 125.00

Hogskulen pa Vestlandet

Name: Hogskulen pa Vestlandet

Address: Høgskulen på Vestlandet, Postbox 7030, 5020 Bergen, Norway

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.hvl.no

Total budget: EUR 177 563.00

Maritime & Logistics Innovation Denmark / MARLOG

Name: Maritime & Logistics Innovation Denmark / MARLOG

Address: Kvægtorvet 8, 5700 Svendborg, Denmark

Legal status: private

Website: http://marlog.dk

Total budget: EUR 114 974.00

ERDF budget: EUR 57 487.00

Provinciaalse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij West-Vlaanderen

Name: Provinciaalse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij West-Vlaanderen

Address: Koning Leopold III – Laan 66, 8200 Brugge, Belgium

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.pomwvl.be

Total budget: EUR 321 910.00

ERDF budget: EUR 160 955.00

Samsø Kommune

Name: Samsø Kommune

Address: Søtofte 10, 8305 Samsø, Denmark

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.samsoe.dk

Total budget: EUR 39 359.00

ERDF budget: EUR 19 679.00

The University Court of the University of Aberdeen

Name: The University Court of the University of Aberdeen

Address: King's College, AB24 3FX Aberdeen, United Kingdom

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.abdn.ac.uk

Total budget: EUR 542 660.00

ERDF budget: EUR 271 330.00

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Stichting New Energy Coalition

Eco-innovative concepts for the end of offshore wind energy farms lifecycle

Partners and Projects info

De Lauwershorst Development and Training BV

Eco-innovative concepts for the end of offshore wind energy farms lifecycle

Partners and Projects info

Prezero

Eco-innovative concepts for the end of offshore wind energy farms lifecycle

Partners and Projects info

University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer

Eco-innovative concepts for the end of offshore wind energy farms lifecycle

Partners and Projects info

Energy Cluster Denmark

Eco-innovative concepts for the end of offshore wind energy farms lifecycle

Partners and Projects info

Port of Grena

Eco-innovative concepts for the end of offshore wind energy farms lifecycle

Partners and Projects info

Hamburg Institute of International Economics

Eco-innovative concepts for the end of offshore wind energy farms lifecycle

Partners and Projects info

Port of Oostende

Eco-innovative concepts for the end of offshore wind energy farms lifecycle

Partners and Projects info

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Eco-innovative concepts for the end of offshore wind energy farms lifecycle

Partners and Projects info

Maritime & Logistics Innovation Denmark / MARLOG

Eco-innovative concepts for the end of offshore wind energy farms lifecycle

Partners and Projects info

Provinciale Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij West-Vlaanderen

Eco-innovative concepts for the end of offshore wind energy farms lifecycle

Partners and Projects info

Municipality of Samsø

Eco-innovative concepts for the end of offshore wind energy farms lifecycle

Partners and Projects info

The University Court of the University of Aberdeen

Eco-innovative concepts for the end of offshore wind energy farms lifecycle

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Eco-innovative concepts for the end of offshore wind energy farms lifecycle

Project acronym: DecomTools

Project start date: 2018-08-01

Project end date: 2023-01-31

Project status: closed

Relevant linked projects:

SeeOff, HSEL
FiberEUse, Horizon 2020
Offshore Wind innovation center, European Fond for Regional Development

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 4 719 156.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 270 794.00

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, .

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Reports

Concept for repowering OWF - Comparison of CO2 and costs with decommissioning

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2023-01-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Cost Modelling for Offshore Wind Farms Decommissioning

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-12-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Decommissioning of Windturbines - Logistics business case

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-01-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Gap analysis rules and regulations

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Market Analysis

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2019-11-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Novel Cryogenic Cooling and Cutting System (CCCS) for OMFs 2023

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2023-01-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Requirement catalogue Infrastructure

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-02-28

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Requirement catalogue Qualification

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-02-28

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Stakeholder Analysis

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2020-04-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Status Overview - Decom offshore wind farms, recycling, reusing and selling of components/materials

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2023-01-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Studies / surveys

A market survey of ROVs and decommissioning tools for the removal of monopile foundations in the offshore wind industry

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2020-12-16

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

An Operational Approach to Decommissioning of Offshore Wind Parks

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2020-02-10

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Cost and Emission Analyses of Decommissioning of Offshore Wind Farms Using Reverse Installation Method: Cases of Lincs Limited, Gunfleet Sands, and Horns Rev I Wind Farms’

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-12-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

End-of-Life phase and three circularity concepts for Wind Turbine Blades

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-12-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Operation Analysis - Virtual Reality Modelling in the context of offshore-decommissioning

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2023-01-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Presenting an Ecco-Sustainable Approach to Decommission Offshore Wind Parks by Designing a New Ship, New Tools and Efficient and Reliable Procedure

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2023-01-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Simulation Analysis - Comparison of various logistical concepts for offshore wind farm decommissioning

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2023-01-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Videos / films

DECOMTOOLS final conference

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2023-01-19

Languages: en

DECOM Tools final conference AFTERNOON session

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2023-01-19

Languages: en

Introduction - Wind Recycling Concepts – DecomBlades and DecomTools Conference

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-09-12

Languages: en

Project presentation - DecomTools

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-09-12

Languages: en

How big is the problem - DecomTools

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-09-12

Languages: en

Gap analysis - DecomTools

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-09-12

Languages: en

Ports central role in offshore decommissioning activities - DecomTools

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-09-12

Languages: en

Chemical recycling of WTBs in DecomTools

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-09-12

Languages: en

Project presentation - DecomBlades

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-09-12

Languages: en

Use case scenario - DecomBlades

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-09-12

Languages: en

Pre Processing and shredding of wind turbine bladesmechanical shredding DecomBlades

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-09-12

Languages: en

Pyrolysis - Decom Blades

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-09-12

Languages: en

Decommissioning as business concept

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-09-12

Languages: en

The end of life of wind turbines Social, spatial and legal considerations of decommissioning

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2022-09-12

Languages: en

Mid-Term conference panel 1

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2021-02-18

Languages: en

Mid-term conference panel 2

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2021-02-18

Languages: en

Mid-term conference panel 3

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2021-02-18

Languages: en

Mid-term conference panel 4

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2021-02-22

Languages: en

Mid-term conference panel 5

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2021-02-22

Languages: en

Mid-term conference panel 6

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://northsearegion.eu/decomtools

Publication date: 2024-11-19

Document date: 2021-02-22

Languages: en

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB North Sea

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2023-02-14

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

73 / 73 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

871 / 871 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://www.northsearegion.eu/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-09-20 and 2023-01-12.

The financial data featured in keep.eu for this programme, it's projects and its partners is not exact and should be taken as a reference only.

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Eco-innovative concepts for the end of offshore wind energy farms lifecycle

Description

Thematic information

Partners (13)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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