March 18, 2011
Australia
Australia
Wind farms: CFA reviews turbine safety
By Brendan Gullifer, The Courier, www.thecourier.com.au 18 March 2011
By Brendan Gullifer, The Courier, www.thecourier.com.au 18 March 2011
The Country Fire Authority is undertaking a review of the fire danger of wind farms.
In a submission to the Senate inquiry, CFA chief officer Euan Ferguson says most turbine fires occur in the nacelle at the top of the tower and the resulting falling debris could be carried by strong winds.
Mr Ferguson said wind farm technology was initially designed for northern hemisphere climates.
The CFA would “like to explore whether the design tolerances with regards to the automatic shutdown of the turbine are appropriate for the Australian climatic condition,” he wrote.
Mr Ferguson says the CFA is investigating additional construction-stage restrictions including on-site smoking restrictions and various vehicle prohibitions, as well as turbine siting in relation to wildfire overlays .
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/03/18/wind-farms-cfa-reviews-turbine-safety/