An old turbine component has been repurposed into a house to showcase the potential for these structures to have a meaningful second life. The tiny house in question was once part of a wind turbine that stood 100 meters in the air. As wind turbines have an average lifespan of 20 to 25 years, estimates suggest that 5,000 of these structures will be decommissioned annually.
To address the issue of waste generated from decommissioned wind turbines, the Swedish energy company Vattenfall has converted a nacelle, the part to which the turbine blades are attached, into a tiny home. The director of innovation at Vattenfall, Thomas Hjort, emphasized the importance of finding ways to repurpose these machines to ensure they have a positive impact on society once they have fulfilled their initial purpose.
Rotterdam-based architecture agency Superuse Studios designed the home using a Vestas V80 2MW nacelle, measuring 10 meters long, three meters wide, and three meters high. Despite its compact size, the home meets Dutch building regulations for living space, insulation, and amenities like a kitchen and bathroom. The design allows for future occupants to personalize the space to suit their preferences.
While Vattenfall currently has no plans to produce more nacelle homes, they are open to providing the parts to companies interested in converting them. Repurposing decommissioned wind turbine parts, such as nacelles and blades, presents a challenge in terms of scalability and supply chain sustainability. Efforts are also underway to find innovative uses for wind turbine blades, such as creating canopies for EV charging hubs and constructing bridges and street furniture
Read the full article on Positive News here: Read More
