QAZAQ GREEN.  A multi-storey car park partly constructed from decommissioned wind turbine blades has been inaugurated in Lund, southern Sweden. The Niels Bohr car park is the first project of its kind in Europe and features a façade made from rotor blades taken from Vattenfall’s retired Nørre Økse Sø wind farm, according to Vattenfall.

The facility is owned by Lunds kommunala parkeringsbolag (LKP) and is located in the developing Brunnshög district. It offers 365 parking spaces across five levels, including 40 electric vehicle charging points. The building is also equipped with solar panels on the roof and an energy storage system to support charging at night.

Vattenfall donated 57 rotor blades for the project. The blades were reused as non-load-bearing façade elements, known as curtain walls, covering large sections of the exterior.

According to Vattenfall Denmark Country Manager Anne Mette Traberg, the project demonstrates how circular solutions can be integrated into real construction projects without compromising safety, cost or timelines. She noted that reuse and recycling of wind turbine components is becoming an increasingly important part of the company’s wind power operations.

The idea was proposed by architect Jonas Lloyd, who was inspired by discussions around the disposal of wind turbine blades in the United States. Designed to withstand decades of harsh weather, blades are difficult to recycle due to their composite materials. Lloyd said the project aimed to show that these materials can be given a second life instead of being treated as waste.

In addition to reused blades, the façade incorporates plants that support pollinators, reinforcing the building’s sustainability concept. LKP CEO Paul Myllenberg said the finished project exceeded expectations and added that the company is considering similar approaches in future developments.

Vattenfall has set a target to ensure that by 2030 all rotor blades, nacelle covers and nose cones from decommissioned turbines are reused, refurbished or recycled, and no longer sent to landfill.