Since 1999, Vestas has worked with Life Cycle Assessments, whose purpose is to:
- Document the environmental performance of Vestas wind turbines
- Use the results to develop wind turbines that have less impact on the environment compared to today
Vestas constantly strives to minimise the consumption of materials for manufacturing wind turbines and to develop turbines that produce energy more efficiently. It is our aim to conduct life cycle assessments for all turbine types in our product range.
Minimal environmental impact
Compared to the environmental effects from average European electricity production, the impact on the environment for a wind turbine life cycle of 20-25 years is minimal:
- Manufacturing of raw materials
- Production of components
- The wind turbine’s energy production
- De-commissioning of the wind turbine
Manufacturing raw materials for the wind turbine and production of the turbine have a negative impact on the environment. On the other hand, the energy production from the turbine and the fact that large percentage of the turbine is recyclable (80 per cent for a V90-3.0 MW onshore turbine on an 80-metre tower) have a positive impact on the environment.
From an energy perspective, a V90-3.0 MW offshore wind turbine will pay for itself more than 35 times during its lifetime. That means that a V90-3.0 MW offshore wind turbine in a good location will produce 284,600 MWh over the course of 20 years. With an average, annual energy consumption of 3,360 kWh (Source: Energy Statistics [Energistatistik 2004], published by the Danish Energy Authority [Energistyrelsen]) for an average Danish household corresponds to 284,600 MWh to the annual electrical consumption for 84,000 households.
LCA reports and environmental product declaration
Vestas has published LCA reports on two types of wind turbines: V80-2.0 MW and V90-3.0 MW. The LCA report for V80-2.0 MW was prepared in collaboration with the consulting firm Elsam Engineering A/S. The life cycle assessment was prepared according to ISO 14040-43*. An external consultant conducted a critical review of the calculations.
Vestas has also prepared an environmental product declaration (EPD) for the V90-3.0 MW wind turbine. The EPD contains the most important conclusions from the LCA report prepared.
*The reports lives up to all the standards in ISO 14040-43 with the exception of the examination by interested parties, which was not conducted.
Read more
LCA V80-2.0 MW onshore and offshore and energy balance
LCA V82-1.65 MW onshore and energy balance
LCA V90-3.0 MW onshore and offshore and energy balance