Des Moines Wall Built With Recycled Wind Turbine Blades
Iowa Contracting utilized shredded fiberglass from three decommissioned turbine blades to construct a retaining wall.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Construction
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Would you support the use of recycled wind turbine parts in local construction projects?
A new retaining wall at a downtown Des Moines credit union features concrete blocks reinforced with ground fiberglass from wind turbine blades. The innovative material reduces the weight of the blocks by 30 percent compared to traditional concrete.
Why it matters
The project addresses the challenge of disposing of 200-foot-long turbine blades, which are costly and difficult to transport to landfills. Utilizing this material in construction provides a sustainable way to manage waste from the state's wind energy sector.
The concrete blocks contain ground material from three turbine blades, achieving a 30 percent weight reduction against conventional concrete. Standard traffic barriers produced by the company weigh 3,300 pounds.
The players
Iowa Contracting
This firm specializes in construction processes and the development of sustainable building materials utilizing recycled wind turbine components.
The details
Crews process the turbine blades by cutting them into chunks on-site before shredding the fiberglass for the concrete mixture. The embedded glass strands act as a binding agent that holds the mixture together, though the resulting barriers are currently not DOT certified.
Timeline
A tornado damaged wind turbines in Greenfield, Iowa, in 2024.
Wind energy generated 63 percent of Iowa electricity in 2024.
The retaining wall report was published in October 2026.
Market Landscape
The initiative capitalizes on the massive volume of wind turbine components entering the waste stream, a direct result of Iowa generating 63 percent of its electricity from wind in 2024. Scaling this technology positions the company to address the burgeoning demand for sustainable infrastructure materials.
Consumers may see these lighter, recycled concrete blocks used in local infrastructure, which could simplify project logistics and installation timelines. The reduced weight lowers shipping costs, potentially lowering the total budget for future construction sites.
The takeaway
Repurposing massive turbine blades as structural components offers a creative solution for waste management in the renewable energy sector. Implementing these materials demonstrates how industrial byproducts can be effectively integrated into everyday urban construction projects.
What happens next
The company intends to scale its processing capacity from hundreds of blades to thousands of blades annually in future operations.
Further reading
For more information on local development, see Construction.
Live Poll
Would you support the use of recycled wind turbine parts in local construction projects?
