19/05/26

Feasibility Study Demonstrates the Potential for a Circular Wind Turbine Hub in the North Sea Canal Area (NZKG)

The so-called Bridge of Europe is increasingly becoming a reality. A circular hub for the dismantling and processing of wind turbines could be established in the North Sea Canal Area. This is the outcome of the feasibility study presented during the kick-off event on 13 May 2026.

In the coming decades, the Netherlands and other European countries will begin dismantling offshore wind farms for the first time. This is a major challenge, taking place simultaneously with the continued installation of offshore wind capacity, but it also presents significant opportunities, particularly in combination with onshore wind turbines.

How it started…
In early 2025, the CIRCO Track “Sustainable Offshore Wind Energy” was initiated by the Dutch Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth (KGG). One of the key outcomes of this track was the conclusion that a central ecosystem for the dismantling, sorting, and circular processing (R-ladder strategies) of wind turbines is highly desirable.

Important objectives were defined, including the need for sufficient volumes to create a viable business case for processing companies, enabling them to extract value from materials (R-strategies) and to recover and retain Critical Raw Materials within the Netherlands and Europe.

During this track, AYOP (Offshore Energy Network) and ECHT Regie in Transitie introduced the chain initiative “The Bridge of Europe,” with a first successful stakeholder meeting held on 3 April 2025. Equipped with this concept, AYOP enthusiastically approached the province and municipalities, resulting in support for a feasibility study.

Over the past months, ECHT Regie in Transitie, together with AYOP, carried out the feasibility study and GAP analysis on behalf of the Province of North Holland, the NZKG Programme Bureau, the Municipality of Velsen, the Municipality of Amsterdam, and Port of Amsterdam.

The outcomes
The project mapped the expected material volumes and values and outlined the preconditions for a potential central circularity hub for the wind industry.

The project Blueprint “Bridge of Europe” describes the identified requirements for the central circular processing of wind turbines. The GAP analysis specifically focuses on the North Sea Canal Area (NZKG).

Key findings

Blueprint:

  • A circularity hub can reduce costs for offshore wind and help retain material streams within the Netherlands and Europe.
  • Collaboration, supply chain coordination, and clustering are essential to enable circularity at scale.
  • Development should preferably connect to existing industrial clusters with heavy port infrastructure and processing capacity.
  • Steel is by far the largest and most valuable material stream.
  • Markets for composite processing and critical raw materials are still under development.
  • Higher R-strategies such as re-use and repurposing offer opportunities but require further market development and coordination.

NZKG Analysis:

  • Strong starting position due to existing port logistics and a distinctive steel processing supply chain.
  • Further development is needed in rapid pre-processing, sorting, and circular processing of components.
  • Composite processing presents both a challenge and an opportunity for differentiation.
  • Targeted growth is required to prepare for the expected material wave after 2045.

In early June, AYOP will host a Business Call to discuss the results of the feasibility study and explore the next steps.
Not yet a member, but interested in attending this online presentation? Please send an email to [email protected].

View the Blueprint for the Circular Wind Turbine Hub here:
https://echt.community/portfolio/bridge-of-europe-circulariteitshub-voor-windturbines/