The first European parking lot built from old wind turbine blades

The Niels Bohr parking lot owned by Lunds kommunala parkeringsbolag (LKP), the city parking management company, opened this week. The turbine blades were taken from the Norre Okse So wind farm, which was originally operated by Vattenfall energy company but has now ceased operations.

“This is a very smart idea and the building is really beautiful,” commented Anne Mette Traberg, Director of Vattenfall in Denmark.

Fan blades are one of the most difficult parts of a wind turbine to recycle. Designed to withstand harsh weather for decades, they are often made from composite materials such as carbon fiber or glass, which are very strong, lightweight and difficult to decompose. In many countries, old turbine blades are buried in landfills.

“I read that in the US, many turbine blades are buried. I think they could be used more effectively. This is not only an environmental issue but also wasteful,” said architect Jonas Lloyd. Therefore, when LKP ordered a new multi-storey car park, Lloyd and his team proposed reusing the turbine blades.

Niels Bohr parking lot consists of 5 floors with 365 spaces and 40 electric vehicle charging points. On the roof of the building there is a solar panel system connected to the battery to charge the car at night. In addition to the turbine blades, the exterior of the building will also be covered with pollinator-friendly plants. “I’m glad we’re promoting sustainability and the building has become a symbol of sustainability,” Lloyd said.

For Vattenfall, one of Europe’s largest wind power developers, operating more than 1,400 turbines in many countries, the car park provides real-world evidence that circular economy solutions are viable at scale.

LKP was given 57 turbine blades by Vattenfall, but apart from the part used for the Niels Bohr parking lot, the rest still have no clear purpose. LKP does not rule out the possibility of including them in future projects. “We launched a competition for people to submit suggestions on how to use them. The owner of the best proposal will receive a month of free parking in our parking lots,” said Paul Myllenberg, CEO of LKP.