Out on the rolling hills of regional Victoria, towering wind turbines have been quietly generating clean energy for years. But what happens when these giants reach the end of their life? While up to 90 per cent of a wind turbine can be recycled, the remaining 10 per cent, mainly the blades, has long been a tricky problem to solve 

Enter Sydney surfer, shaper and owner of Bolero Surf, Banjo Hunt, who has found a way to give these blades a second life! Instead of heading to a landfill, parts of decommissioned wind turbine blades are now carving through waves as high-performance surfboard fins (how cool)!

Turning a waste problem into a wave solution

The idea began with a challenge. Working with traditional fibreglass can be time-consuming, costly, and heavily reliant on newly produced materials. Over the years, Hunt explored a range of recycled alternatives, including materials from caravan panels and boat hulls, but none quite hit the mark.That process of trial and error ultimately led him to wind turbine blades, where the material offered the strength and reliability needed for high-performance surfboard fins.

Using a 6 metre section of a turbine blade from the Waubra Wind Farm, Hunt has spent months crafting fins with a computer-operated cutter. The result is a product made entirely from repurposed turbine material, offering a more sustainable alternative to traditional fin manufacturing.

It is not just about reducing waste. By reusing these materials, Hunt avoids some of the most labour-intensive and costly parts of production, while also keeping manufacturing local in Australia.

A growing need for creative solutions

This innovation couldn't come at a better time. Australia is facing a wave of decommissioned wind farms, with 31 already over 15 years old. By 2034, these could generate around 15,000 tonnes of blade composite waste.

Globally, the challenge is already being tackled in creative ways, with old blades being transformed into everything from furniture to playground equipment.Surfboard fins are now joining that list, proving that waste materials can have serious value when reimagined.

Tested where it matters most

Of course, sustainability is only half the story. Performance still matters, especially in the surf.

These recycled fins have already been tested in real-world conditions, including at the Australian Boardriders Battle on the Gold Coast. Professional surfer Darcy Crump described them as being on par with major brands, noting their solid feel and performance in powerful waves.That balance of performance and sustainability is what makes this innovation so exciting. It shows that choosing better materials does not mean compromising on quality.

A second life for wind power

The fins are part of Acciona’s ‘Turbine Made’ initiative, which aims to rethink end-of-life materials as the beginning of something new. What started as an idea has now evolved into a commercially viable product, designed for surfers in Australia and beyond. You can preorder the turbine-made fins here. 

It also builds on earlier innovations in this space, including the world’s first surfboards made from wind turbine blades. If you missed that story, you can catch up here. 

A future worth riding towards

With thousands of tonnes of turbine blades set to reach the end of life in the coming years, solutions like this will be essential. And while not every blade will become a surfboard fin, this innovation proves that with a little creativity, waste can become something far more valuable.

For surfers, it is a chance to ride waves more sustainably. For the rest of us, it is a reminder that the future of waste is not just about disposal, but about reinvention!