What does it cost to decommission a wind turbine?

Typical figures are EUR 30,000 to 80,000 per megawatt of installed capacity — so a modern 6 MW turbine roughly comes in at EUR 180,000 to 480,000. On top of that, expect EUR 20,000 to 40,000 for foundation removal. The exact cost depends on hub height, accessibility and the recycling route.

Who bears the decommissioning costs?

The operator. The BImSchG (Federal Immission Control Act) permit notice stipulates a decommissioning bond as a condition, the amount of which is based on a current decommissioning cost estimate — often EUR 30,000 to 60,000 per turbine. This ensures that the landowner is not left holding the costs.

Guide · Decommissioning

Who decommissions a wind turbine — and what does it cost?

In short: Specialised dismantling firms carry out the decommissioning — from heavy-lift logistics through to recycling. Realistically, you need to budget EUR 30,000–80,000 per megawatt plus EUR 20,000–40,000 for foundation removal. The decommissioning bond (Rückbaubürgschaft) protects the landowner — the costs never land on them.

Who carries out the decommissioning?

Specialised decommissioning companies with heavy-lift equipment (crane logistics, hydraulic dismantling, special transport for rotor blades).
Manufacturer service divisions sometimes offer decommissioning themselves, often bundled with the repowering contract.
Recycling networks handle the sorting and recovery of the materials — see Recycling.

Are you looking for a concrete recommendation for your site? Through our contact page we connect you with experienced decommissioning/repowering specialists.

Cost blocks in detail

Block	Range
Dismantling of rotor, nacelle, tower	EUR 30,000–80,000 / MW
Foundation removal (often down to 1–2 m depth, in some regions complete)	EUR 20,000–40,000 / turbine
Logistics & heavy haulage	included in the dismantling price; surcharge for remote sites
Recycling/disposal charges	steel/copper = revenue, rotor blades = cost
Renaturation of the site	EUR 5,000–15,000 / turbine

The recycling revenue (steel and copper fractions) is offset by the dismantling firm against the dismantling costs — net, the operator lands at the figures stated above.

The decommissioning bond

The BImSchG (Federal Immission Control Act) notice sets a decommissioning bond (Rückbaubürgschaft) as a condition — typically EUR 30,000 to 60,000 per turbine, and in some regions more. It is provided via a bank guarantee or a deposit and is reviewed every few years for adequacy. This ensures that the decommissioning is financed securely, even if the operator runs into economic difficulties.

Repowering angle: In repowering, the decommissioning of the old turbine is tendered together with the construction of the new turbine in the same contract package — this significantly lowers the decommissioning costs, because logistics and personnel only have to be mobilised once. More under Decommissioning in the repowering context.

Frequently asked questions

Does the foundation stay in the ground?

The standard is removal down to at least 1–2 m depth; in many federal states (Bundesländer) complete removal is required. The exact requirements are set out in the permit notice or in the lease agreement.

What happens to the rotor blades?

They are shredded and recovered through co-processing in cement plants (combined material and thermal recovery), mechanically recycled into fibre flour, or broken down using chemical processes. Details under Recycling.

How long does decommissioning a turbine take?

Pure dismantling takes 2–4 weeks per turbine where access is good. Foundation removal and renaturation take several additional weeks. In a wind farm, several turbines are decommissioned in parallel or in sequence.

Wind turbine decommissioning costs: dismantling of rotor, nacelle and tower EUR 30,000 to 80,000 per MW, foundation removal EUR 20,000 to 40,000 per turbine, renaturation EUR 5,000 to 15,000. Example 6 MW turbine EUR 180,000 to 480,000 total. Decommissioning bond EUR 30,000 to 60,000 BImSchG condition protects the landowner. Duration: dismantling 2 to 4 weeks, foundation several weeks. Three players: specialised dismantling firms, manufacturer service, recycling networks. Repowering advantage: decommissioning plus new build as a package, logistics only once, costs fall significantly

Wind turbine decommissioning – cost blocks, decommissioning bond, duration and the repowering advantage