Case Study: ReWindBlades Solutions

How ojas.design Helped Transform Blade Waste into a Circular Business Model

Overview:

In the face of a mounting global challenge—millions of decommissioned wind turbine blades destined for landfills, ReWindBlades Solutions was conceived to close the loop.

Ojas.design partnered with a leading European Metal Recycler to unlock this opportunity using a design thinking approach that converted a complex environmental problem into a viable, scalable business plan.

Challenge

Wind turbine blades are built to last—constructed from reinforced polymer composites that are hard to recycle. With over 43 million tonnes of blade waste expected by 2050, the wind industry faces a looming waste crisis. The European Metal Recycler needed a breakthrough strategy to address this challenge which could marry circularity with economic and industrial feasibility into a viable business.

Our Approach: Design Thinking in Action

Ojas.design led a structured innovation sprint grounded in human-centered design, including:

🎯 Empathy & Research

• Mapped needs and constraints across stakeholders: wind farm operators, policymakers, engineers, recyclers.

• Analyzed policy shifts (e.g., EU landfill bans) and material science barriers.

🧭 Define & Frame

• Reframed the challenge as a circular economy opportunity, not a disposal problem.

• Prioritized criteria: scalable process, high-value outputs, stakeholder alignment.

💡 Ideation & Systems Design

• Facilitated cross-functional workshops exploring mechanical, thermal, and chemical recycling pathways.

• Brainstormed market models, including licensing, public-private partnerships, and product circularity loops.

🧪 Prototyping & Testing

• Modeled scenarios for logistics, blade segmentation, and material recovery.

• Evaluated pilot viability in collaborations with industry and Universities

  
  

Outcome: ReWindBlades’s Business Blueprint

Ojas.design delivered a validated and fundable business plan, including:

• A modular blade recycling facility concept

• R&D and IP roadmap in partnership with academia

• Financial projections with a 3–5 year break-even timeline

• An investor-ready pitch deck and brand positioning

• Clear market differentiation from other recyclers

Impact

The ReWindBlades project is now positioned to become a catalyst for circularity in the wind energy sector, offering:

• 90%+ blade material recovery

• Scalable economic value from composite waste

• A blueprint for zero-waste decommissioning

Partner With Us

Interested in joining ReWindBlades as an investor, research partner, or policy stakeholder to shape the future of sustainable wind energy. Contact the Ojas.Design team to create the introductions.