Research Fellow in Circular Economy and Wind End-of-Life Regulation at University of Leeds

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have a background in environmental regulation? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research intensive Universities?

Within EOLO-HUBs, the University of Leeds is leading a work package to facilitate circular business model innovation for the sustainable exploitation of wind turbine blade recycling solutions, supported by a context sensitive decision-making framework. The framework will consider regulation, policy and market dynamics amongst other factors, for the selection of (sets of) circular economy solutions for wind turbine end-of-use management that add the most social, environmental and economic value within a particular region over time.

In collaboration with a team of interdisciplinary international researchers, you will undertake a comparative study of different legislative approaches and regulatory principles which seek to enhance circular economy in the wind sector. You will evaluate the regulation and array of circular economy initiatives relevant to end-of-life (EoL) management of wind farms at different levels: a) the European Union; b) the domestic laws of various countries such as Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, France, Denmark and Italy; and c) Regional governance. The analyses will focus on both ‘hard’ (e.g., legislation that sets standards, with legal sanctions imposed for non-compliance) and ‘soft’ (e.g., Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives without legal sanctions for non-compliance) measures setting recycling targets for wind turbines as a whole and, more specifically, the blades. You will also investigate regulatory approaches to composite/blade waste treatment, drawing on measures adopted in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and Finland, which make clear references to composite waste in their domestic waste laws. Public statements made by leading players in the sector, e.g., about landfill bans for decommissioned blades, will also be explored.

Based on a stakeholder survey followed by an in-depth workshop, you will consider whether ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ law approaches would be more effective and cost-efficient in the enhancement of circularity in the wind sector in the short-, mid- and long-term. There will be some important questions to consider in this regard. For instance, might (voluntary) recycling targets set by a global player in the wind sector, operating in a global market, reduce the need for nations to enact their own domestic laws, and the time and delay associated with this, or might an EU-wide strategy be preferable? And what impact might different approaches have on the location of industries?

You will publish the results in scientific journals alongside diverse communications tailored to industry and government stakeholders such as industry articles, trade fair presentations and policy briefings. The final report on the comparative analysis of different legislatives and main principles to enhance circular economy will form an important part of EOLO-HUBs’ online knowledge platform.

You will be joining a growing team of ‘circular wind’ researchers at the cutting edge of knowledge and practice, collaborating in a supportive interdisciplinary environment with ample opportunity for your continued professional development.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

 Dr Colin Mackie, Associate Professor in Business Law

Email: c.mackie@leeds.ac.uk

Location: Leeds – Main Campus

Working time: 100% – We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements

Contract type: Fixed term (2 years (to complete project with specific end date))

Downloads:

Further details: Candidate Brief