A German startup is moving forward with plans to build the world’s first large-scale factory for wooden wind turbine blades. The project, which will cost over €100 million ($115 million), was announced in 2026 and will be located in Navarra, Spain. The factory is expected to begin commercial operations in 2031.
The VB1F project, led by Voodin Blade Technology and its European partners, will make turbine blades from wood-based materials. This method could make it easier to recycle wind turbine parts as the industry grows.
Wind power faces a growing waste problem
Global wind capacity has now passed 1,000 gigawatts as countries increase renewable generation to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. More installations will be needed as electricity demand continues to rise and climate targets put pressure on energy systems to decarbonize.
This growth brings new manufacturing challenges. To meet climate targets, global wind capacity must rise to over 3,000 GW by 2030. Each megawatt of wind power needs about 10 metric tons of turbine blade material.
Most modern wind turbine blades are made from fiberglass composites, which combine glass fibers with epoxy resin. After they are made, it is hard to break them down or recycle the materials. As a result, about 78 percent of old blades end up in landfills or are burned.
By 2050, wind turbine blade waste could reach 43 million metric tons. This creates an environmental challenge for an industry focused on clean energy.
Wood replaces conventional blade materials
Voodin Blade Technology aims to solve this problem by making blades from timber taken from certified European forests. Nordic spruce fir trees will provide the raw material, with the wood retaining biogenic carbon captured during growth.
First, the timber will be peeled into thin sheets. These sheets will be glued together to make strong Laminated Veneer Lumber, known as LVL.
LVL offers the strength, dimensional stability, and fatigue resistance required to withstand demanding wind loads. This allows the material to serve as a structural alternative for large turbine blades.
Digital manufacturing shapes each blade
The wooden LVL blocks will be processed using automated CNC milling machines. Digital CAD files will guide the equipment as it cuts the material into precise aerodynamic blade profiles.
This system brings together engineered wood and automated production, which could let the factory make large turbine parts on a big scale.
The main advantage comes when the blades are no longer in use. LVL can be recycled for other uses, either organic or industrial, so the material can be reused instead of thrown away.
Factory targets 160 blade sets annually
VB1F is planned to reach commercial operation in 2031. At full production, the Navarra facility is expected to manufacture up to 160 blade sets every year.
The project could also create about 450 local jobs while supporting the region’s renewable manufacturing sector. Its developers estimate that the facility could prevent more than 2.4 million metric tons of emissions during its first decade.
The project reflects a broader effort to make wind power more sustainable beyond electricity generation. If wooden blades can scale economically and meet the demanding requirements of modern turbines, they could help reduce the waste burden created by the rapid expansion of wind energy.