First Look: Surfboards Made From Recycled Wind Turbines

The company reportedly made 10 prototype boards with Draft Surf from a decommissioned blade from a wind farm in Waubra, Victoria.. The effort is part of the company’s new initiative called Turbine Made, a program meant to come up with creative ways to reuse old wind turbine blades into new materials and products. According to Renew Economy, a climate and energy news outlet, Acciona has asked Australian companies for more opportunities to grow turbine recycling.

“When Acciona approached us about being part of the solution and working together to create these surfboards, we jumped at the opportunity,” Josh said in a release. “At its core, our brand is about enabling the best surfing experience with quality products, in a sustainable way - which aligns with Acciona’s vision for Turbine Made.” 

According to Renew Economy, most of Australia’s decommissioned wind turbines are recyclable. However, between “5 and 15% of the turbines, including the blades, are made of composite materials that are more difficult to recycle.” It was this composite material that was layered onto the deck and fins of Kerrzy’s 10 surfboards.  

A handful of surfboards looks like a drop in the bucket for Acciona, which operates one of the largest wind farms in Australia, the MacIntyre facility in Queensland. Still, the company is aware that many of the country’s turbines will be phased out in the next 10 to 15 years, and it’s probably a good idea if that material has to go somewhere besides a landfill. As for whether these turbine boards will take over your local lineup, that may take a while longer.  

“Sustainability isn’t just about reducing waste — it’s about product stewardship, ensuring that what we build today doesn’t become tomorrow’s environmental challenge,” said Mariola Domenech, Acciona Energia’s global sustainability director. “By working with Australian manufacturers, designers, and innovators, we can encourage the creation of practical, high-performance applications that benefit both industry and the environment."