Wind Turbine Blade Recycling Receives a Boost

Owens Corning and Gjenkraft AS have signed a letter of intent (LoI) to advance circular solutions for composite waste. The initiative aims to close the loop for glass fiber materials by integrating recycled glass fibers recovered via Gjenkraft’s thermolysis-based process back into Owens Corning’s production of new glass fibers. In practice, this means composite waste will be converted into high-quality secondary raw materials — and then reintroduced into the value chain as input for new products. Through this collaboration, the two companies will explore how advanced recycling technology can reduce landfill waste, lower CO₂ emissions, and enable a truly circular approach to composite materials.

Gjenkraft’s proprietary pyrolysis (thermo-chemical) technology makes it possible to recycle close to 100% of wind turbine blade materials (typically consisting of epoxy resin-based composites) and recover materials such as glass fiber, carbon fiber, syngas, synthetic oils, gas, carbon powder, foams, and metals, turning them into valuable raw materials. The technology delivers significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions compared to incineration, while eliminating the need for landfilling and reducing the extraction of virgin raw materials.

“We’re committed to reducing our environmental footprint, and this collaboration brings us one step closer to that goal,” said Dr. Chris Skinner, Vice President of Strategic Marketing and R&D for Owens Corning’s Glass Reinforcements business. “By incorporating recovered and recycled glass fiber into composites materials, we can demonstrate the real-world circularity of composites. This enables us to provide our customers with the solutions they need to meet growing regulatory and consumer demands for recycled content.”

“Our thermolysis-based recycling process is transforming how composite waste can be managed. Working with Owens Corning gives us the opportunity to demonstrate that recycled fibers can return to industrial production at scale — making a real sustainability impact,” says Arvid Lønne, Chairman of Board at Gjenkraft.

Gjenkraft also recently complete a totaling NOK60 million (USE$6 million), enabling the launch of commercial operations at its first industrial recycling plant in Høyanger, Norway. With an annual capacity of 2,800 tonnes, the facility will become the world’s first commercial-scale plant dedicated to the recycling of wind turbine blades.