As old wind turbines reach the end of their service life, the sustainability sector has faced an urgent question of how to avoid old blades ending up in landfill.
Now, recycled wind turbines are getting a new life, and in a world first, are being used to make surfboards.
Sustainable infrastructure company ACCIONA has partnered with pro surfer and founder of Draft Surf, Josh Kerr, to build an initial range of ten prototype surfboards made from decommissioned wind turbine blades.
The boards have been handcrafted by Kerr and his team on the Gold Coast.
At an event in Sydney on Tuesday attended by federal energy minister Chris Bowen, the surfboards were launched with a surf session at Urbnsurf.
“When ACCIONA approached us about being part of the solution and working together to create these surfboards, we jumped at the opportunity. At its core, our brand is about enabling the best surfing experience with quality products, in a sustainable way,” Kerr said.
One of the key figures behind the surfboard project is ACCIONA’s global head of sustainability Mariola Domenech, who told Women’s Agenda the possibilities for recycling decommissioned wind turbine blades are huge.
“Now we are finally able to fully recover the materials in the blade,” she said.
“We know that in the next 5 to 10 years countries like Australia will have a large volume of decommissioned wind turbine blades, so we’re acting now to explore new ways to recycle and reuse the material they are built from.
“The creation of a surfboard prototype, developed locally, is an example of how we’re reimagining the materials from decommissioned turbine blades and pushing the envelope of innovation when it comes to the circular economy.”
Asked about the possibilities for women to develop their careers in the sustainability sector, Domenech said while it’s still dominated by men, there are more women than ever taking up roles.
“It’s a very exciting moment to develop a career in sustainability,” she said.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, the presence of women in the renewable energy sector is less than 30 per cent and if we talk about managerial positions, that figure drops even lower.
However, Domenech says there are a range of areas within sustainability that make for exciting and rewarding careers, especially as we head towards decarbonised economies.
“For example, if you are more interested in human rights, you can specialize in this. Or if you want to work with communities, [you can work on] projects to develop local communities. You also have a technical role,” she said.
“For me, it’s a really purpose-driven job…you can align your own values and purpose in a way that’s not possible in other jobs.”
Featured image: ACCIONA’s global head of sustainability Mariola Domenech.