April 11, 2008
Japan

Windmills lose blades in high winds

The strong winds that buffeted the Tokai and Kanto regions Tuesday apparently snapped the massive blades of two wind turbines in Higashi-Izucho, Shizuoka Prefecture, officials of the company that operates the turbines said.

The site hosts 10 windmills belonging to CEF Izuatagawa Wind Farm Co., a subsidiary of Nemuro, Hokkaido-based wind power generation company Clean Energy Factory Co. Each windmill is 103.5 meters tall, and can generate 1,500 kilowatts. Turbines No. 4 and No. 5 each lost one of their three 37-meter-long blades.

According to company officials, another wind turbine owned by the Higashi-Izucho municipal government and located about three kilometers away from the broken wind turbines recorded wind gusts of 174.6 kph on Tuesday morning. Lightning also was reported near the site.

A resident staying at a resort villa near the broken windmills heard a large thumping noise at about 4 a.m. Tuesday, the officials said. CEF Izuatagawa Wind Farm believes strong winds and lightning strikes broke off the blades.

The windmills, which can withstand wind gusts up to 198 kph, were in a trial phase of operation, the officials said.