The National Laboratory of the Rockies has launched the Technology Recycling and Repurposing (T-ReX) Collegiate Competition with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. The initiative invites undergraduate and postsecondary student teams to address a pressing challenge: finding practical alternatives to landfill disposal for components and materials from retired energy infrastructure.
Participating teams selected for Phase 1: Project Conception will spend the 2026 academic fall semester developing proposals focused on recycling or repurposing parts and materials from wind turbines that have completed their operational lifespans at DOE national laboratories. Students must identify feasible and efficient approaches to recover valuable materials including steel, copper, carbon fiber, and rare earth magnets, while reducing overall waste. According to Elise DeGeorge, the competition’s lead organizer at NLR, students will need to balance creative problem-solving with practical considerations, including logistics and connections to manufacturers and recycling companies capable of processing materials at scale.
Teams advancing to Phase 2: Design Execution will visit NLR’s Flatirons Campus to examine the decommissioned equipment firsthand and select specific components for their projects. They will then spend the spring 2027 semester executing their designs with technical support from NLR staff. The competition culminates in May 2027 with a final presentation event where teams showcase their finished work to industry judges and highlight community engagement efforts completed throughout the year.
Beyond addressing material recovery challenges, the competition aims to provide students with practical workforce experience and networking opportunities within the energy, manufacturing, and materials sectors. Participating teams are also expected to engage with local communities to understand end-of-service challenges specific to their regions and raise awareness about recycling benefits. Applications for Phase 1 are due Sept. 30, 2026.
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