10139461RESCUE - Regulations to Ensure Sustainable Circular Use at End-of-life Implementation phaseClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKORE Catapult, University of Leeds, University of the West of England, University of Birmingham, EMR, and Ionic Technologies are seeking to establish a network to explore the regulatory and legislative drivers and barriers impacting the development of innovation in the circular supply chain for the wind sector. With the earliest turbines coming towards the end of their operational life, the need for a well-established end of life materials handling system to enable a circular economy is becoming of increasing importance. A 2020 report by WindEurope stated that approximately 9GW of European installed onshore wind capacity is 20- 24 years old and approximately 1GW is 25 years or older. This provides a clear market opportunity around the decommissioning of wind farms, which is set to grow steadily over the next decade. Historically, waste management practices have had the primary objective of disposing of materials in a way that protects the environment and human health. However, as recently highlighted in the Pro-innovation Regulation of Technologies Review into Green Industries, existing legislation risks stifling innovation associated with the reuse, repair, and recycling of components and materials. The current classification of materials greatly impacts downstream applications and logistics, with 'End of waste' regulations highlighted as a particular challenge for the sector. Innovators require clear guidelines and certainty on the flow of materials to ensure viable business models and secure investment. Regulatory science is a critical factor in ensuring that the UK economy can benefit from the opportunities that are being provided by the decommissioning of wind turbines. The implementation phase project will centre on the topics of waste regulation, navigation of the regulatory landscape, and standardisation activities, and builds on work carried out during an initial 6 month discovery project, which focused on stakeholder engagement, need identification, and desk based landscape reviews.