June 24, 2014
Ireland

Turbine fire sparks investigation

24/06/2014 | renews.biz

Investigations into a fire that completely destroyed a Gamesa G58 turbine at the Cappaboy Beg wind farm in County Cork are focussing on areas including human error, rather than any technical issue.

Last week’s blaze destroyed the 850kW machine at the project site near Kealkill in the southwest of the country, where Irish developers Mukdar and Gaoithe Glas own five turbines each.

“The turbine was completely destroyed by a fire … and no exact cause has yet been determined,” said a source with close knowledge of the project.

Maintenance work was being carried out during the time at which the fire started, he added. The project is eight years old.

Another source said that technical issues had already been ruled out and investigations were focusing on other possible causes including human error. Gamesa is understood to be leading the investigations.

Up to eight firefighters took two hours to put out the fire, which spread to surrounding trees and grass during a prolonged spell of dry, warm weather.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/06/24/turbine-fire-sparks-investigation/