February 25, 2016
Michigan

Turbine blade fails at Sigel Wind Park

By Kelly Krager, Editor | Huron County View | 2016-02-25 | huroncountyview.mihomepaper.com

SIGEL TOWNSHIP – Detroit Edison is investigating a blade failure on a wind turbine in the company’s Sigel Wind Park.

DTE Project Manager Dennis Buda said the blade broke at 3:15 p.m. Friday on turbine No. 29, located on Section Line Road, between Finkel and McLennan roads. No public roads were closed as a result of the failure, and no injuries occurred.

“DTE and Duke Energy teams were the first on site at the Sigel 29 wind turbine. The teams took immediate action to secure the area, including closure of the turbine access road,” Buda said.

He said the teams are seeking the cause of the failure, and DTE will share the information when it becomes available.

During Tuesday’s Huron County Board of Commissioners meeting, Buda said representatives from the turbines manufacturer, General Electric, was expected to conduct a “top-to-bottom” inspection of the turbine Wednesday, but plans could have changed due to the expected winter storm.

The Sigel site is part of DTE’s Thumb Wind Parks, which consist of 69 1.6 megawatt General Electric wind turbines, three electrical substations and associated electrical collection system, located in Huron and Sanilac Counties. Also comprising the Minden and McKinley sites, the park generates renewable energy capable of powering 25,000 homes in Michigan, according to DTE.

The Minden site contributes 32 megawatts of power with 20 wind turbines; the McKinley site provides 14.4 megawatts of power with nine turbines; and the Sigel site delivers 64 megawatts of power with 40 turbines. All sites use GE 1.6 megawatt wind turbine generators on 96- and 100-meter towers.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/02/25/turbine-blade-fails-at-sigel-wind-park/