Traceability for Wind Blade Recycling: Balancing Transparency, Privacy, and Data Integrity

Aitor Gómez-Goiri; David Garcia-Estevez; José Tomás San-José Lombera; Ivan Gutierrez-Aguero

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-05877-5_26

Traceability for Wind Blade Recycling: Balancing Transparency, Privacy, and Data Integrity

Aitor Gómez-Goiri^*
, David Garcia-Estevez
, José Tomás San-José Lombera
, Ivan Gutierrez-Aguero

^*Corresponding author for this work

Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA)

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable energy solutions has led to a substantial increase in wind energy installations. As the first wind farms reach the end of their operational life, the rising volume of waste from wind blades underscores the need for efficient recycling practices. This paper explores the current landscape of wind blade recovery, identifying key actors and practices. We analyze challenges in traceability and data privacy within the recycling process. To address these, we propose a blockchain-based architecture that follows industry standards. Our solution enables comprehensive tracking of wind blades and recycled materials while keeping critical information private. We explore data privacy complexities and present four alternatives, highlighting the importance of zero-knowledge proofs to preserve decentralization.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Blockchain and Applications, 7th International Congress
Editors	Rafael Pastor-Vargas, Albano Carrera, Bálint Molnár, Óscar Lage, Javier Prieto, Antoine Nongaillard
Publisher	Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages	274-283
Number of pages	10
ISBN (Print)	9783032058768
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-05877-5_26
Publication status	Published - 2026
Event	7th International Congress on Blockchain and Applications, BLOCKCHAIN 2025 - Lille, France Duration: 25 Jul 2025 → 27 Jul 2025

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems
Volume	1635 LNNS
ISSN (Print)	2367-3370
ISSN (Electronic)	2367-3389

Conference

Conference	7th International Congress on Blockchain and Applications, BLOCKCHAIN 2025
Country/Territory	France
City	Lille
Period	25/07/25 → 27/07/25

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

blockchain
circularity
privacy
wind blade
zero-knowledge proof

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-032-05877-5_26

Cite this

Gómez-Goiri, A., Garcia-Estevez, D., San-José Lombera, J. T., & Gutierrez-Aguero, I. (2026). Traceability for Wind Blade Recycling: Balancing Transparency, Privacy, and Data Integrity. In R. Pastor-Vargas, A. Carrera, B. Molnár, Ó. Lage, J. Prieto, & A. Nongaillard (Eds.), Blockchain and Applications, 7th International Congress (pp. 274-283). (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems; Vol. 1635 LNNS). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-05877-5_26

Gómez-Goiri, Aitor ; Garcia-Estevez, David ; San-José Lombera, José Tomás et al. / Traceability for Wind Blade Recycling : Balancing Transparency, Privacy, and Data Integrity. Blockchain and Applications, 7th International Congress. editor / Rafael Pastor-Vargas ; Albano Carrera ; Bálint Molnár ; Óscar Lage ; Javier Prieto ; Antoine Nongaillard. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2026. pp. 274-283 (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems).

@inproceedings{ed14d4d78fdb4f7fba927b46de4a9471,

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abstract = "The growing demand for sustainable energy solutions has led to a substantial increase in wind energy installations. As the first wind farms reach the end of their operational life, the rising volume of waste from wind blades underscores the need for efficient recycling practices. This paper explores the current landscape of wind blade recovery, identifying key actors and practices. We analyze challenges in traceability and data privacy within the recycling process. To address these, we propose a blockchain-based architecture that follows industry standards. Our solution enables comprehensive tracking of wind blades and recycled materials while keeping critical information private. We explore data privacy complexities and present four alternatives, highlighting the importance of zero-knowledge proofs to preserve decentralization.",

keywords = "blockchain, circularity, privacy, wind blade, zero-knowledge proof",

author = "Aitor G{\'o}mez-Goiri and David Garcia-Estevez and \{San-Jos{\'e} Lombera\}, \{Jos{\'e} Tom{\'a}s\} and Ivan Gutierrez-Aguero",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.; 7th International Congress on Blockchain and Applications, BLOCKCHAIN 2025 ; Conference date: 25-07-2025 Through 27-07-2025",

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Gómez-Goiri, A , Garcia-Estevez, D, San-José Lombera, JT & Gutierrez-Aguero, I 2026, Traceability for Wind Blade Recycling: Balancing Transparency, Privacy, and Data Integrity. in R Pastor-Vargas, A Carrera, B Molnár, Ó Lage, J Prieto & A Nongaillard (eds), Blockchain and Applications, 7th International Congress. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol. 1635 LNNS, Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, pp. 274-283, 7th International Congress on Blockchain and Applications, BLOCKCHAIN 2025, Lille, France, 25/07/25. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-05877-5_26

Traceability for Wind Blade Recycling: Balancing Transparency, Privacy, and Data Integrity. / Gómez-Goiri, Aitor ; Garcia-Estevez, David; San-José Lombera, José Tomás et al.
Blockchain and Applications, 7th International Congress. ed. / Rafael Pastor-Vargas; Albano Carrera; Bálint Molnár; Óscar Lage; Javier Prieto; Antoine Nongaillard. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2026. p. 274-283 (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems; Vol. 1635 LNNS).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Traceability for Wind Blade Recycling

T2 - 7th International Congress on Blockchain and Applications, BLOCKCHAIN 2025

AU - Gómez-Goiri, Aitor

AU - Garcia-Estevez, David

AU - San-José Lombera, José Tomás

AU - Gutierrez-Aguero, Ivan

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

PY - 2026

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N2 - The growing demand for sustainable energy solutions has led to a substantial increase in wind energy installations. As the first wind farms reach the end of their operational life, the rising volume of waste from wind blades underscores the need for efficient recycling practices. This paper explores the current landscape of wind blade recovery, identifying key actors and practices. We analyze challenges in traceability and data privacy within the recycling process. To address these, we propose a blockchain-based architecture that follows industry standards. Our solution enables comprehensive tracking of wind blades and recycled materials while keeping critical information private. We explore data privacy complexities and present four alternatives, highlighting the importance of zero-knowledge proofs to preserve decentralization.

AB - The growing demand for sustainable energy solutions has led to a substantial increase in wind energy installations. As the first wind farms reach the end of their operational life, the rising volume of waste from wind blades underscores the need for efficient recycling practices. This paper explores the current landscape of wind blade recovery, identifying key actors and practices. We analyze challenges in traceability and data privacy within the recycling process. To address these, we propose a blockchain-based architecture that follows industry standards. Our solution enables comprehensive tracking of wind blades and recycled materials while keeping critical information private. We explore data privacy complexities and present four alternatives, highlighting the importance of zero-knowledge proofs to preserve decentralization.

KW - blockchain

KW - circularity

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KW - zero-knowledge proof

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AN - SCOPUS:105027197382

SN - 9783032058768

T3 - Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems

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BT - Blockchain and Applications, 7th International Congress

A2 - Pastor-Vargas, Rafael

A2 - Carrera, Albano

A2 - Molnár, Bálint

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A2 - Nongaillard, Antoine

PB - Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH

Y2 - 25 July 2025 through 27 July 2025

ER -

Gómez-Goiri A , Garcia-Estevez D, San-José Lombera JT, Gutierrez-Aguero I. Traceability for Wind Blade Recycling: Balancing Transparency, Privacy, and Data Integrity. In Pastor-Vargas R, Carrera A, Molnár B, Lage Ó, Prieto J, Nongaillard A, editors, Blockchain and Applications, 7th International Congress. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. 2026. p. 274-283. (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems). doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-05877-5_26