Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

GE Renewable Energy is collaborating with European partners neowa and LafargeHolcim to advance wind turbine recycling and reuse as part of broader efforts to contribute to the European Commission’s (EC) circular economy action plan.

As governments and corporations aim to achieve their net zero targets, wind turbines are expected to grow significantly in the decades ahead. According to the Global Wind Energy Council, 2020 added 93 GW of new capacity installed – a 53% year-on-year increase – but that is not nearly enough to meet renewable energy targets.

GE’s European recycling partnerships focus on wind blades specifically – most other components of wind turbines are fully recyclable, containing primarily steel and copper. The blades, however, are made from materials such as fiberglass and are difficult to recycle so the blades often wind up in landfill.

The EC circularity plan, adopted in March of last year, focuses on how products are designed, promotes circular economy processes, encourages sustainable consumption, and aims to ensure that waste is prevented and the resources used are kept in the EU economy for as long as possible. Measures under the plan include:

Make sustainable products the norm in the EU.
Empower consumers and public buyers.
Focus on the sectors that use most resources and where the potential for circularity is high such as: electronics and ICT, batteries and vehicles, packaging, plastics, textiles, construction and buildings, food, water and nutrients.
Ensure less waste.
Make circularity work for people, regions and cities.
Lead global efforts on a circular economy.
GE’s multi-year agreement with neowa to dismantle and remove decommissioned turbines will recycle up to 90% of the turbines. Additionally, neowa’s proprietary process to shred turbine blades will create a feedstock for cement production.


https://www.environmentalleader.com/2021/06/ge-advances-wind-turbine-blade-recycling-with-european-partnerships/

https://twitter.com/TonyGerdeman/status/1411090857495834625?s=19

A little more context that many of the people in that tweet thread should know.

Yes, this is in the Gulf of Mexico, West of the Yucatan Peninsula, in Mexican waters, in a pipeline operated by a Mexican company.

we can still blame the evil oil companies for ruining the earth

Trump's fault

Every energy source known has upsides and downs.  Maybe fusion is one with the best balance, save for the fact it's the "energy of the future, and always will be".

It makes sense, to me, to have a range of sources.  We certainly need a base power source, something reliable that cranks out steady power day after day.  And then we need "peaker" sources that can fill in when demand surges.

As we transition to EVs, we're going to need more of the former from somewhere.  I have read the increase may be 20-30% more power needed, from somewhere, much of it at night fortunately.

Here again no mention of specific countries such as China whose buy in is necessary for any real improvement

wake me when that happens and I'll be much more attentive to proposed plans

The might as well summarize their "plan" as this, "Well folks, this isn't going to happen, so we probably should start thinking differently."

I chuckled ...

Making net-zero emissions a reality hinges on a singular, unwavering focus from all governments – working together with one another, and with businesses, investors and citizens. All stakeholders need to play their part. The wide-ranging measures adopted by governments at all levels in the net zero pathway help to frame, influence and incentivise the purchase by consumers and investment by businesses. This includes how energy companies invest in new ways of producing and supplying energy services, how businesses invest in equipment, and how consumers cool and heat their homes, power their devices and travel.
Underpinning all these changes are policy decisions made by governments. Devising cost-effective national and regional net zero roadmaps demands co-operation among all parts of government that breaks down silos and integrates energy into every country’s policy making on finance, labour, taxation, transport and industry. Energy or environment ministries alone cannot carry out the policy actions needed to reach net zero by 2050.
Changes in energy consumption result in a significant decline in fossil fuel tax revenues. In many countries today, taxes on diesel, gasoline and other fossil fuel consumption are an important source of public revenues, providing as much as 10% in some cases. In the net zero pathway, tax revenue from oil and gas retail sales falls by about 40% between 2020 and 2030. Managing this decline will require long-term fiscal planning and budget reforms.
The net zero pathway relies on unprecedented international co-operation among governments, especially on innovation and investment. The IEA stands ready to support governments in preparing national and regional net zero roadmaps, to provide guidance and assistance in implementing them, and to promote international co-operation to accelerate the energy transition worldwide.