When a wind turbine finally stops spinning after years of generating clean electricity, what happens to all its parts? That question is at the heart of a new competition that is turning an environmental challenge into a hands-on learning experience for college students across the country.
The National Laboratory of the Rockies in Colorado is inviting undergraduate and postsecondary teams to compete in the Technology Recycling and Repurposing, or T-ReX, Collegiate Competition. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the competition asks students to find creative ways to give new life to parts from wind turbines that have been retired after years of research at national laboratories.
Many materials inside wind turbines can already be recycled, but some components are still difficult or costly to process on a large scale. Student teams will focus on recovering valuable materials like steel, copper, carbon fiber, and rare earth magnets while reducing waste. Steel and copper are common metals. Carbon fiber is a strong, lightweight material often used in airplane parts and sports equipment. Rare earth magnets are small but powerful magnets used in electronics and motors.
Phase 1 of the competition kicks off during the fall 2026 semester. Selected teams will spend that time developing proposals for either recycling or repurposing turbine parts. Based on criteria like creativity, practicality, and safety, the strongest teams will move forward.
Those who make it to Phase 2 will travel to the laboratory's Flatirons Campus to see the decommissioned equipment up close and pick the parts they want to work with. Those parts will then be shipped to the teams, who will spend the spring 2027 semester turning their ideas into real projects. The final showcase will happen in May 2027, where teams will present their finished work to industry judges.
Elise DeGeorge, a researcher at the National Laboratory of the Rockies who is leading the competition, says students will need to think creatively and practically. "They'll really have to use their imaginations," she said. That means figuring out not just what to make from the materials, but how to connect with manufacturers or recycling companies who can actually use them.
Beyond the technical work, the competition also asks teams to engage with their local communities. Students will learn about challenges that come with retiring energy projects, like making sure land is used responsibly and avoiding unexpected costs. They will also help spread the word about why recycling and reusing these materials matters.
The goal goes beyond any single project. By participating, students will gain real-world experience and make connections with people working in energy, manufacturing, and materials science. That could help them find their future careers while also building a workforce ready to handle the growing need to manage energy equipment at the end of its life.
As more wind farms and other energy projects age out, finding smart ways to handle the materials inside them will only become more important. This competition gives students a chance to be part of the solution, turning yesterday's clean energy technology into tomorrow's resources.