ACCIONA Energía’s groundbreaking project to transform wind turbine blade recycling has been recognised as a finalist in the Clean Energy Council Awards 2025. Australia’s leading renewable energy company launched its Turbine Made initiative in 2025 with a bold ambition to create the world’s first surfboards made from a retired wind turbine blade.

ACCIONA Energía partnered with professional surfer Josh Kerr and his surfboard brand Draft Surf, to produce 10 prototype surfboards from a decommissioned blade from the Waubra wind farm in Victoria.

This Australian-first initiative has kickstarted a national conversation on circularity in renewables and sparked a number of opportunities for further collaboration across industries.

The Turbine Made project was today announced as a finalist in the Clean Energy Council’s Collaboration Award category.

The Collaboration Award recognises an organisation, individual or group that “has built consensus and driven progress among key stakeholders to support the Australian clean energy industry”.

ACCIONA Energía’s General Manager Brand & Marketing Caroline Pinter said the Turbine Made project is designed to raise awareness about the recycling challenge and spark innovation and collaboration in circular design solutions.

“Our Turbine Made initiative was designed to boldly reimagine the possibilities for transforming decommissioned wind turbine blades,’’ she said.

“In the next 10 to 15 years, Australia is going to be grappling with a large volume of decommissioned wind turbine blades and we are proud to be leading the approach to tackling this future waste problem through sustainable innovation.

“We are thrilled that our innovative approach to circular design has been recognised as a finalist at the 2025 Clean Energy Council Awards.”

The prototype surfboards were handcrafted on the Gold Coast and feature repurposed turbine blade strips built into the deck for strength and flex control. The fins of the board were made from recycled fiberglass and the outer shell incorporated recycled turbine blade particulate into the fiberglassing process.

Turbine Made’s pioneering approach has brought together engineers, designers, manufacturers, government, and the surfing community to explore new uses for blade materials.

The Clean Energy Council Awards will be presented on 29 July 2025 at the Australian Clean Energy Summit.

The Turbine Made initiative is also a finalist Australian Marketing Institute Awards in the Sustainability Marketing category, with the winners to be announced 15 August.