Sensor fails to stop ice-terror wind turbine
A sensor which should switch off a wind turbine in icy conditions has failed – for the second time.
As reported in The Evening Telegraph last week, a faulty sensor on the turbine in King’s Dyke, Whittlesey, was blamed for huge shards of ice flying off its blades and crashing into homes and gardens in November.
Following an investigation, bosses at Truro-based Cornwall Light and Power, which owns the £2 million machine, installed a second sensor which should switch it off as soon as the temperature drops to 4C.
Yet as Maria Clark left King’s Dyke Karpets on Thursday evening, a business she owns a few yards from the giant machine, the cold hit her and she was shocked to see the blades still turning.
She got into her car and checked the outdoor temperature gauge – it read 2C. Fearing another ice shower, she quickly made a call to Cornwall Light and Power and the turbine was eventually switched off.
Mrs Clark said: “If it was 2C on the ground, it would have been much colder by the top of the turbine.
“I feel very concerned. My daughter could be in the car park getting in the car and end up getting hurt by a piece of ice hitting the ground.
“I’m all for being green normally, but not at the expense of seriously hurting somebody.”
Chief executive of Cornwall Light and Power Neil Harris, said: “On the evening of January 22, we were alerted to the fact that our Whittlesey turbine was operating, despite the air temperature having dropped below 4C.
“We are currently investigating why the turbine failed to stop automatically, and would like to apologise to local residents for any concern this may have caused.
“The turbine was shut down immediately after we were alerted, and will remain in this state until further notice.”
By Marie Barker
24 January 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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