CIRCO

Developing and validating a novel thermochemical recycling route (DCI™) to recover glass fibers, carbon fibers, and syngas from end-of-life offshore wind turbines.  

Funding: TKI Offshore-Energy
Budget: €221.000
Project duration: 2025-2027

The offshore wind industry is growing rapidly, playing a key role in the energy transition. However, this growth brings a challenge: how to deal with large volumes of end-of-life composite materials, such as turbine blades and protective covers. These materials, made from glass and carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (GFRP and CFRP), are difficult to recycle. Landfilling or incineration results in environmental loss and wasted resources.  

The CIRCO project (Circular Recovery of Glass, Carbon and Syngas from Offshore Wind Composites) develops an innovative circular solution for this issue. It focuses on DCI™ (Direct Carbon Immobilization), a new thermochemical process that recovers valuable raw materials like glass fibers and syngas from offshore composite waste.  

The project brings together a strong Dutch consortium. RWE, one of the Europe’s largest offshore wind operators, contributes end-of-life blade material and provides input as a potential user of recycled composites. DOPS leads development of the DCI™ technology. Saxion University of Applied Sciences, through its Department for Applied Nanotechnology, conducts advanced material and environmental analysis. Circular Covers designs and tests reuse applications, while ECHT, a sustainable project agency specialized in circular economy and energy transition, leads business modelling and supply chain strategy. 

CIRCO will generate practical knowledge on fiber recovery, environmental and economic performance, and real-world reuse potential. The project supports national ambitions for a circular offshore wind sector and prepares the ground for scalable, sustainable composite recycling in the coming decades. 

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