Abstract
There is mounting evidence that climate change related impacts are becoming more visible and occurring more frequently, with increasingly destructive force. This further accelerates the demand for society to reduce environmental impacts across sectors. A sustainable transition is required to move to new manufacturing methods with reduced carbon emissions and minimized use of virgin raw materials, with production powered by renewable energy sources. Wind power is expected to be one of the important energy conversion technologies contributing to this transition. Wind turbines for power production have undergone tremendous innovation and development. Today the energy used for manufacturing a wind turbine is paid back in less than a year. Nonetheless, the wind industry aims to further reduce the environmental impact from wind turbine manufacturing, operation and end-of-life. The goal is to increase climate performance and reduce use of virgin raw materials by keeping materials in use within a circular economy. This leaflet introduces the wind power industry’s contribution to a sustainable transition, while also shedding light onto challenges the industry seeks to address in coming years, in collaboration with other sectors and the full wind value chain. The sustainability transition for wind power will benefit several other industries, including hard-to-abate sectors. Taking a leading position in decarbonization and circularity requires continued research and innovation to support the journey.