In the Swedish city of Lund, Europe’s first parking garage to use decommissioned wind turbine blades in its facade has opened. The Niels Bohr building is clad with 57 blades that previously worked at the Nørre Økse Sø wind farm operated by Vattenfall. They do not serve a load-bearing function, but they protect the walls from wind and are a key design element. Their strength and resistance to moisture — the very qualities that once made them ideal for wind turbines — have also proved useful in architecture.
The project addresses the problem of disposing of wind turbine blades, which are made of composite materials that are difficult to recycle and often end up in landfills. The architects proposed reusing them as durable and resilient exterior panels.
The parking garage is designed for 365 cars, including 40 spaces with charging stations for electric vehicles. Solar panels with an energy storage system have been installed on the roof, and the facade is complemented by green plantings. For Vattenfall, the project is part of its circular economy strategy and its goal to reuse 100% of wind turbine blades by 2030.
