Demonstration of innovative materials, supply cycles, recycling technologies to increase the overall circularity of wind energy technology and to reduce the primary use of critical raw materials

The proposal is expected to address one of the following activity areas:

• On the development of large-scale industrial demonstration of composite material recycling technologies to increase the circularity of wind technology, proposals are expected to demonstrate recycling technologies at large-scale in an operating environment. The proposed solution will be a flexible production line, able to deal with a large amount of material (including, for example, coatings, paints, etc.) and applicable to several manufacturers and possibly to other sectors. The proposed solution should also have a long-term plan, with a business plan, beyond the life of the project. The proposals will also build a knowledge hub within the sector and with other sectors to transfer information and to promote recycling in the renewable energy sector and ‘circularity by design’ as a solution.
• On the development of alternative solutions to replace/substitute critical raw materials, proposals need to develop and demonstrate, in a relevant or operational environment, solutions and their supply cycles, improving efficiency of sourcing processes and effectively replacing the constrained materials. The development of advanced ‘circular by design’ materials should also be considered. The solutions proposed should be in line with the Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials [[COM(2020) 474 - Critical Raw Materials Resilience: Charting a Path towards greater Security and Sustainability]]and the Foresight Study on Critical Raw Materials for Strategic Technologies and Sectors in the EU[[Critical Raw Materials for Strategic Technologies and Sectors in the EU - A Foresight Study]]. Finally, the proposals will indicate the effect that such proposed solutions have on promoting circularity and/or recyclability on wind energy, as well as their circularity potential, their financial feasibility, and their potential to be upscaled. Further, the proposals should address and support life cycle analysis as a tool to bring into evidence the environmental impact and resource efficiency of proposed solutions.

Independently of the activity tackled, the proposal has to include a clear go/no go moment ahead of entering the deployment phase. Before this go/no-go moment, the project will have to deliver the detailed engineering plans and all needed permits for the deployment of the project. In the case of the first activity, the project will also have to deliver a complete business and implementation plan. The proposal is expected to clearly demonstrate a proposed pathway to obtaining necessary permits for the demonstration actions and allow for appropriate timelines to achieve these. The proposal is expected to also demonstrate how it will get a financial close[[Financial close occurs when all the project and financing agreements have been signed and all the required conditions contained in them have been met. It enables funds to start flowing so that project implementation can actually start. It includes, but it is not limited to, permitting and planning approvals, outstanding technical design issues, remaining key project and financing documents, and funding approvals. More information can be found at: https://www.eib.org/epec/g2g/iii-procurement/32/323/index.htm]] for the whole action. Independent experts will assess all deliverables and will advise for the go/no-go decision.

Synergies are possible with topic: HORIZON-CL4-2021-RESILIENCE-01-23: Novel recycling technologies for composite materials (RIA).

The selected projects are expected to contribute and participate to the activities of the project BRIDGE[[https://www.h2020-bridge.eu/]] when relevant.