Published on: February 3, 2026, 14:07
Six months after its unveiling, the Blade Barrier at Rijkswaterstaats test site demonstrates that reused wind turbine blades can be a serious and circular alternative to traditional noise barriers.
Initial measurement results show that the innovative barrier achieves a sound reduction comparable to a standard concrete noise barrier.
The Blade Barrier was unveiled on July 2, 2025 as a Dutch world first: the first noise barrier constructed from discarded wind turbine blades. The 60 m long test installation is located along the A58 near Oirschot and is monitored until the end of 2026 within InnovA58; Rijkswaterstaats infrastructure test site.
Sound Performance Comparable to Standard Barrier
Initial sound studies show that the Blade Barrier achieves good sound results. The barrier, made up of 2 whole turbine blades and a cut part, varies in height between 3 and 4 m.
Evaluation with scientific models shows that the Blade Barrier is acoustically comparable to a traditional noise barrier about 3.3 m high. The sound study of the Blade Barrier was carried out by the companies M+P and Demcon, commissioned by Rijkswaterstaat.
Rijkswaterstaat is positively surprised by the results. Willem Jan van Vliet (sound measures expert): ‘The result has clarified the barrier effect of the Blade Barrier. Based on this, we now know how the barrier can be modeled in a regular road traffic noise study.
This demonstrates one of the main assessment criteria in broad terms: the sound performance. With the realization in July 2025, manufacturability has also been demonstrated. Monitoring continues until the end of 2026, during which results of other criteria (financial impact, safety & maintenance, and sustainability) will follow.
Circular Alternative for a Growing Waste Problem
The Blade Barrier is an initiative of startup Blade-Made, which focuses on high-quality reuse of wind turbine blades from decommissioned wind farms. These blades are difficult to recycle and form a growing waste stream worldwide.
Use as secondary building material in large-scale infrastructure objects offers the wind industry a sustainable solution for complex residual flows. The construction sector saves cement and steel, thereby reducing environmental pressure. This is a win-win situation. The noise barrier aligns with Rijkswaterstaats ambition to work fully climate-neutral and circular.
InnovA58 as a Living Test Site
We participate from the project InnovA58 with the test site, knowledge, and co-financing in the project. The Blade Barrier fits within the ambition to move towards sustainable and circular infrastructure objects that are also applicable in daily practice.
With the first positive results, InnovA58 also wants to inform other road managers, such as municipalities and provinces, about the possibilities of circular noise barriers. The Blade Barrier shows that reuse of complex residual flows, such as wind turbine blades, can lead to full-fledged, functional, and scalable infrastructure solutions with a lower environmental impact.
The test installation was realized in cooperation with Dura Vermeer, which has been involved from the beginning in development and implementation. The province of Noord-Brabant is also involved through a financial contribution from the Circular Breakthrough Projects Program.