An Analysis of Sustainable Decommissioning of Wind Turbines Project

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of sustainable wind turbine decommissioning, addressing the environmental and economic aspects of the process. The report explores the aims and objectives, philosophical basis, and relevance of decommissioning to the professional and academic fields. It examines methodologies, including research surveys and interviews, to understand cost-effective methods, environmental pollution minimization, and site restoration. The report analyzes the decommissioning process in light of methodologies from Sweden and the United Kingdom, considering costs, environmental concerns, sustainability, and permit issuance. It highlights the importance of sustainable practices, recycling, and remanufacturing approaches for wind turbine components. The study emphasizes the significance of sufficient time and resource allocation for effective decommissioning and aims to establish cost models and understand the economic impacts of decommissioning wind turbines. The report discusses key literature, cost analysis, and the role of regulations, with the ultimate goal of promoting environmentally sound practices and efficient waste management within the wind power industry.

Running Head: DECOMISSIONING WIND TURBINES 1
An Analysis of Sustainable Decommissioning of Wind Turbines
Name
Institution

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Table of Contents
1.0 Aims/Objectives...................................................................................................................2
2.0 Philosophical basis...............................................................................................................3
3.0 Relevance to professional or academic field........................................................................4
4.0 Methodology........................................................................................................................7
Instrumentation.......................................................................................................................8
Research surveys....................................................................................................................8
Validity of the survey.............................................................................................................9
Interview.................................................................................................................................9
4.0 Personal development outcomes........................................................................................10
5.0 Appraisal of Key Literature...............................................................................................10
References................................................................................................................................13

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An Analysis of Sustainable Decommissioning of Wind Turbines
This project dissects a number of operation aspects that influence decommissioning
process in terms of benefits and regulation costs.
1.0 Aims/Objectives
In spite of the environmental impacts, huge costs, and logistical difficulties, little
attention is paid on the wind power turbine decommissioning projects. Decommissioning is a
vital part of the wind power project and therefore should be taken into consideration at the
beginning of the project (Jerpåsen and Larsen, 2011, p.207). The paper seeks to establish the
sustainable decommissioning program that is supported by the environmental assessment
impact. Decommissioning contains the following decommissioning procedure: turbines,
foundations, cable, substation and met tower, scour protection, and site clearance (Lamont et
al., 2013, p. 68). The paper provides analysis on how dismantling should be carried out to
ensure that there is minimum environmental pollution and proper restoration of the original
site during the end of life phase. Specifically, the paper aims at dissecting decommissioning
process in light of Sweden and United Kingdom methodologies, in terms of costs,
environmental concern, sustainability, and issuance of permit. While the paper acknowledges
that lack of proper guidelines in past decommissioning process has led to ambiguity,
emphasis is on socio-economic factors.
The purpose of analysing cost models is to develop models that would help wind
turbine developers to evaluate the future costs that they are likely to incur as part of
decommissioning. Ideally, the paper does not seek to obtain exact prices, but to establish and
understand economic impacts of decommissioning wind turbines. Decommissioning is a
more complex and challenging process compared to the oil and gas projects and therefore

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each of the aforementioned procedures requires adequate planning in terms of finances and
time (Joseph, 2014). The study emphasize on importance of sufficient time and resource
allocation to facilitate effective decommissioning process. The main objectives of the
proposal are the following:
1) To explore sustainable methods of decommissioning wind power turbines
2) To analyse how to minimize environmental pollution during the decommissioning
process
3) To establish cost-effective methods of decommissioning wind power turbine projects
2.0 Philosophical basis
Scholars have addressed the topic of wind turbine decommissioning with regard to
cost, sustainability, and environmental conservation. On the subject of cost analysis, scholars
have been estimating the possible cost involved in the dismantling process. For instance,
Kaiser and Synder (2012, p.116) estimate the cost of decommissioning wind turbines in the
United States offshore farms, to determine the amount of bond that offers financial security in
ensuring that the decommissioning obligations are met in case the operator is unable to meet
the obligations.
Scientists have employed specific models for assessing the removal cost and,
according to Anderson et al (2016, p. 16), each component involves removal, processing, as
well as scrap revenues or disposal costs. The “removal costs are function of the work duration
per unit, the number of units, and the day rate of vessel conducting the work” (Kaiser and
Synder, 220). However, the calculation of the processing cost, scrap revenues, and disposal
costs are done separately on price/ton basis. On each component, the total cost of

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decommissioning is equal to “the sum of the cost of all removal, processing, disposal, and
scrap modules.”
There are three components disposal costs: transport cost, processing cost, and
landfill costs. Kaiser and Synder (2012, p.217) compartmentalize the cost of turbine
development into three categories: initial capital cost for constructing wind farm, annual
variable cost, and dismantling cost. Scholars identify dismantling cost as the most uncertain
due to insufficient experience in deconstructing activity. Other scholars compare
decommissioning to the past oil projects (Kaiser and Synder, 2012, p.98). However, unlike
wind turbines, decommissioning process in the oil projects involves routine and low-tech
procedures.
The first component to remove is turbine. Decommissioning involves removal of the
entire turbine from the site and then dissembling it onshore. Liberman (2012, p.1637) observe
that reasonable time is critical to reduce operational risk and make the process economical.
The next item to dismantle is transition piece, which connects the lower section of the turbine
tower to the foundation. The process includes removing massive J-tubes by cutting to make
lifting possible. The next step is landfilling to cover the holes created by removal of the
foundation followed by dismantling the topside of offshore substation, which involves filling
the structure with resin to empty it and minimize the risk of oil spillage (Zhang and Bihe,
2016, p.79). Other structures that are dismantled include meteorological and mast subsea
cables.
3.0 Relevance to professional or academic field
Over the past decade, there has been increased awareness on the environmental issues
related to fossil fuel as wake up call to adopt renewable forms of energy that have lower

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impact on the environment. Some of the energy sources that have received more attention to
date include solar, hydro, and wind power. However, all the sources of energy supply require
energy evaluation to ensure that the whole life cycle and its impact on the environment is
taken into consideration Slimacek and Lindqvist (2016, p.197). To underscore the
sustainability of the renewable sources, it is incumbent that the elements and materials used
are optimally managed starting from the production process, installation, operation,
decommissioning, up to the removal phase. Wind power energy is fast growing in different
parts of the world particularly in the United States, Sweden, and Germany (Sirmani and
Farsoni, 2018, p.186). The common assumption is that the lifespan of the wind turbine take
20 years. However, the development of wind power in many countries including Sweden
began at least 25 years ago— an implication that decommissioning of turbines is taking place
and that the numbers will escalate (Topham and McMillan, 2017, p.471).
While the management of decommissioned wind turbines remains bleak, worn out
parts can be recycled and reused for other purposes. Thomsen (2014, p. 152) estimates the
recyclability of the modern wind turbine to be 80 percent. Studies on waste management of
the wind turbines and sustainable decommissioning are scarce. Life cycle assessment (LCA)
of wind turbines have been done on various parts of the world, including Mexico, China, and
Spain (Thomsen, 2014, p. 157).
The paper acknowledges the fact that it is difficult to perceive that the residual value
of the wind turbine has the capacity to cover the decommissioning cost because the scrap
market is quintessentially volatile and uncertain. After establishing decommissioning cost, it
is vital to secure funds required for the dismantling process. Kaiser and Synder (2012, p.37)
observe that surety bond if fundamental component of the decommissioning regulation.
Dismantling procedure, based on the operator’s perspective, reflects the cost to be incurred in

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future. On the other hand, government perceive it as the financial risk if the operator becomes
bankrupt.
Central to the process of decommissioning has been the cost factor. Cost analysis has
since been made possible parameterization, which involves collection of the time needed for
decommissioning process and the concomitant costs. The process of decommissioning
conjures up the concept of “learning effect,” which is the impact of total experience of
undertaking decommissioning of projects as well as its potential contribution towards the cost
of decommissioning (Kaiser and Synder, 2012, p.38). Additionally, fluctuations in metal
prices have been analysed in the recent past with aim of establishing how they affect the
residual value of wind turbines once they become non-operational. Most scenarios, however,
have excluded inflation, learning effect, and fluctuation of metal prices. Ideally,
decommissioning process need to encompass all the aforementioned factors. Still on financial
aspect, it is paramount to introduce measures that can help to improve approaches to
decommissioning process. These measures should include how to include dismantling into
accounts, whether provisions need to be tax deductibles, how to account for competitive
neutrality, how to allocate potential surplus capital in situations where decommissioning cost
is not anticipated, how to deal with matters of change ownership, and how to follow up
restoration to the completion of the process.
Studies on decommissioning process provide key insight to wind turbine industry in
terms of existential challenges in managing in managing decommissioned wind turbines,
available options for recycling and remanufacturing, salient activities in recovery methods
and reverse supply chains, and business as well as economic issues related to the end life of
wind turbines (Kaiser and Synder, 2012, p.132). The study is also fundamental in helping the
learner to understand different disposal techniques— open and closed recycling. Due to

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increasing market cost of key materials, remanufacturing approach has been identified as one
of the best method to sustaining wind turbines in long term (Kaiser and Synder, 2012, p.141).
The study helps in understanding different methods of after use with regard to wind
turbines. These techniques include refurbishing, which relies on cost and availability of
components; reselling, which depends on market demand, and recycling, which depends on
size of turbines (Topham and McMillan, 2017, p.473). On recycling, the proliferation of
reprocessing technology has led to increased scrap value of materials like aluminium, steel,
and concrete. Demand for wind turbine materials in the global market has been moving on
upward trajectory. Topham and McMillan (2017, p.478) estimate that materials recovered
from the wind turbine sites can reach 80 percent and therefore there is need to adopt recycling
approach. Recycling approach helps to reduce imports, close material cycles, and minimize
consumption of virgin materials hence creating new business opportunities. This is the central
goal of any academic discourse.
4.0 Methodology
Research gaps accentuated in this study include cost analysis, policies, regulations,
and environment. Research questions will focus on these aspects.
Research questions
1) Do you think we have sufficient technology to aid decommissioning process?
2) Has agricultural, energy, and environmental research and development been sufficient
to promote dismantling of wind power turbine?
3) Has the government taken adequate measures to ensure that the decommissioning of
the wind turbine is sustainable?

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Instrumentation
According to Shea et al (2013, p.63) a viable research is underpinned on the reliability
and accuracy of data. The research will use both quantitative and qualitative data for adequate
comparison and data analysis. The main research methods will be research surveys and
interviews.
Research surveys
The researcher will draft questionnaire that focuses on the issues of sustainability,
environmental accountability, decommissioning technology, issues of cost, and time. The
leading principle is that the aforementioned aspects have been the centre of the previous
studies.
Before doing interviews and drafting the questionnaire, the researcher will conduct a
pilot study to establish the feasibility of the research. The pilot study will depend on the
professor’s comment about the study. The questionnaire will be distributed to wind power
turbine experts. According to Saunders et al (2016, p. 185), an expert is a person that
occupies an office in a given professional field or an individual that possess a special
knowledge and skills in a given line of profession. Bearing that there is time constraint, only
70 questionnaires will be disseminated.
In order to establish an overview of the era of wind turbine decommissioning, data
were collected in several ways. First, available research papers and reports on the
decommissioning cost assessment, removal methods and regulations were gathered and
analysed. Subsequently, an overview of the Swedish /Denmark and UK methodologies
regarding to how these costs have to be assessed as well as what developers are required to
do regarding the decommissioning in the permit issuance were included. Finally, detailed

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estimated dismantling cost data was obtained from Tèkne s.r.l., an Italian Engineering Firm
that deals with public works, renewable projects, telecommunications and other, for one of
the wind parks in Italy they have assessed (Falco M., 2014). Mariagrazia Falco is the design
engineer in Tèkne s.r.l that allowed me to study the wind farm specifications about the
dismantling operations and in the paper, her name will be used to refer to the firm estimated
data. The Italian estimated cost data were compared with data collected in Sweden and
several case studies, both based on estimated and real data, are presented.
Validity of the survey
Out of the 70 questionnaires, 20 will be online surveys while 10 will be mail
questionnaires. Nix and Hall (2016, p.312) observe that survey approach is best method of
protecting the confidentiality and the anonymity of the respondents. Hence, the survey will
not collect any information that might lead to the trace of the respondents’ identity.
Thereafter, critical analysis to the experts’ opinion will follow by maintaining utmost
confidentiality to safeguard their identity. Based on adequacy, due to time and financial
constraint involved in obtaining a larger sample, the research will target a minimum of 30
responses from the experts. Shea et al (2013, p.281) contend that the validity of the survey
relies on the appropriateness and meaningfulness of the researcher’s inferences, which is
underpinned on the data collected.
Interview
The researcher will conduct telephone interviews by making 45 calls in a span of 15
days. Telephone interview is preferred since it is cost effective and saves time compared to
face-to-face-interview. The researcher will use “live-scribe smartphone to record the
interview” (McBurney and White, 2013, p.392). After recording, the researcher will
transcribe the files and then delete those (Saunders et al., 2016, p.273).

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4.0 Personal development outcomes
First, by conceptualizing how to decommission wind power turbine, the research
improves my decision-making and problem solving skills. Decommissioning process is a
complex process that requires sound decision-making to operate the system efficiently and
effectively. In addition, the research familiarizes me with approaches to decommissioning
process that helps to improve environmental accountability through minimizing pollution by
reduction of oil spillage. Environmental conservation ensures that future generation are not
exposed to the polluted environment. The study also helps me to understand economic factors
with regard to wind turbines— fluctuation of prices and global demand.
The research enables me to understand the importance of consultations and open
communication in developing a successful organizational project. Decommissioning process
requires advanced planning. Conceptualizing the whole process through research enables me
to be a good planner in terms of time and resource management. Studies on decommissioning
process provide key insight to wind turbine industry in terms of existential challenges in
managing in managing decommissioned wind turbines, available options for recycling and
remanufacturing, salient activities in recovery methods and reverse supply chains, and
business as well as economic issues related to the end life of wind turbines. Hence, the study
is also fundamental in helping the learner to understand different disposal techniques— open
and closed recycling.
5.0 Appraisal of Key Literature
The project will utilize Eva Topham and David McMillan (2017) findings on the
“Sustainable decommissioning of an offshore wind far.” Tmpham and McMillan examine
different methods of decommissioning offshore wind turbines. The authors also explore

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decommissioning phases, and methods of conducting the process efficiently. This source is
significant to the study as it enables the researcher to have background information in the
decommissioning process. The article is elaborative and precise and dissects specifically
important point points. The researcher can easily conceptualize the underlying subject and
relate with the previous studies. Therefore, the researcher considers the source ideal for the
study.
Another significant source in the study will be Edward J Liberman’s work on (2012)
“Life cycle assessment and economic analysis of wind turbines using Monte Carlo
simulation. The author encompasses both aspects of energy and environmental sustainability.
Liberman (2012) elaborates on turbine maintenance, power distribution, as well as well as
decommissioning and disposal of turbine wind power. More importantly, the author
introduces economic aspect in the turbine life lifecycle. This source will help the author to
develop sensitive analysis on issues of environmental sustainability and renewable energy.
The source will also be important in conceptualizing economic factors that surrounds
decommissioning of the wind turbine.
The third literature source that is fundamental to the study is Kyser and Synder (2012)
work on “Offshore wind energy cost modelling: Installation and decommissioning.” to
conceptualize the decommissioning process. Kyser and Synder (2012) explore installation
and decommissioning of offshore wind turbine in the United States and outer continental
shelf. The authors elaborate on cost estimate of decommissioning process by first developing
methodologies that are underpinned on cost-effective implementation of the underlying
process. Kyser and Synder (2012) developed installation and decomposition models by
providing range of parameterization to reflect confidence in estimation process. Similarly,
this literature will be significant in the research since the study is underpinned on establishing
efficient approaches to decommissioning process.

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The project will also employ Hou et al (2017) findings on “Offshore wind farm
repowering optimization.” The authors comprehensively discuss cost-effective and
environmental friendly installation and decommission stages. Hou et al (2017) also developed
wind turbine cost evaluation index to determine whether it is economical to invest in such
projects. The authors also incorporate issues of environmental conservation and sustainable
development in their findings. Like the aforementioned source, this literature will be
significant in the project because the concepts accentuated are consistent with the
researcher’s scope of the study. The source will facilitate the researcher’s understanding on
matters of benefits analysis and appraisal of the wind turbine project.
The project will also rely on Lamont et al (2013) findings on the “Wind Technology
and Associated Carbon Footprint.” The literature explores wind power energy by
emphasizing on issues of technology and efficiency. The authors also analyse cost-effective
approaches for installation and decommissioning of wind power turbines. Similarly, Lamont
et al (2017) also raises issue of environmental sustainability and renewable energy
generation. Considerably, most of the topics discussed in this literature are relevant for the
study because most of them reflect the general objective of the study. Therefore, the
researcher finds it appropriate to include the source in developing literature.

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