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Wind Power News: Accidents
See also: Wind Turbine Accident data (worldwide) at Scotland Against Spin
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission to provide information about industrial wind energy development to readers seeking such information. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the credited organizations or individuals and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Tonnenschwerer Flügel stürzt bei Aalen-Waldhausen von Windrad ab
[Wind turbine between Waldhausen and Hülen lost one of its blades.] Zwischen Waldhausen und Hülen hat ein Windrad am Sonntag einen Flügel verloren. Nach aktuellem Stand wurden dabei keine Menschen verletzt. Auch weitere Schäden sind bislang nicht bekannt. Bei der betroffenen Anlage handelt es sich nach vorliegenden Informationen um ein rund 19 Jahre altes Windrad. Es sollte – wie die übrigen sieben Anlagen auch – durch leistungsstärkere Anlagen ersetzt werden. Bei der Betreiberfirma Statkraft mit Sitz in Düsseldorf heißt das . . . Complete story »
Worker killed in reported crane collapse at Blackford County wind turbine construction site
A 27-year-old man from Michigan died Friday morning at a wind turbine construction site in Blackford County, on Blackford County Road 450 South east of County Road 100 East, in what emergency radio traffic described as a potential crane collapse. The Blackford County Coroner’s Office identified the worker as Hunter Torpey of Michigan. Deputies and emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene at 11:24 a.m. on Friday, July 10, according to the Blackford County Sheriff’s Office. When they arrived, they . . . Complete story »
Wind farm near Highmore, South Dakota, has critical damage
A powerful thunderstorm packing extreme straight-line winds slammed into central South Dakota this morning, leaving critical damage at a wind farm near Highmore in Hyde County. Storm chaser Jakob McMillin documented the scene in a widely shared post on X, showing multiple wind turbine towers collapsed or heavily damaged, with blades and structural debris scattered across the prairie. In replies to his post, McMillin stated he observed “over 20” turbines destroyed or critically damaged. Unbelievable damage to a wind farm . . . Complete story »
Feuer in 100 Metern Höhe: Was über Ursachen und Folgen des Windrad-Brands bekannt ist
[A wind turbine in Bönen, on the border with Hamm, was engulfed in flames.] Ein Feuer in über 100 Metern Höhe, eine dichte Rauchsäule über dem Gebiet und wenig, was die Feuerwehr ausrichten kann: Am Sonntagnachmittag mussten die Retter zuschauen, wie das Maschinengehäuse und ein Flügel einer Windkraftanlage am Grenzweg in Bönen verbrannten. Sie konnten nur dafür sorgen, dass die herabfallenden Trümmerteile nicht zu weiteren Bränden am Boden führten. Doch wie ist es überhaupt zu dem Brand gekommen? Und wie . . . Complete story »
Oliver County landowners warned to stay away from wind turbines
Landowners in Oliver County are being warned to stay 150 feet away from certain wind turbines because of possible loose bolts in the blades. At last week’s Oliver County Commission meeting, residents learned more about the potential problem from NextEra Energy officials. Letters sent to residents did not include details about why they were being asked to stay away from the turbines. This left farmers and ranchers uncertain about how to operate near the turbines. “With the Oliver Four project, . . . Complete story »
Lightning damage to Scout Moor sparks safety fears over new wind farm plans
The damage from lightning strikes to a wind turbine on Scout Moor means another wind farm there could be too dangerous, according to campaigners. One of the 26 wind turbines up on the moorland between Rochdale, Edenfield and Rawtenstall was damaged by a lightning strike in the early hours of Thursday (May 28). Campaigners against opposing new wind turbines in the area claim debris ‘flung off’ the damaged blade onto the ground below – as it was still spinning. They . . . Complete story »
Taipower wind turbine in forested area catches fire in Yunlin
A fire broke out Sunday on one of Taipower’s wind turbines in Yunlin County’s Mailiao Township, with firefighters unable to extinguish the blaze because of the turbine’s height. The turbine, which stands 45 meters tall, exceeded the reach of firefighting equipment, forcing firefighters to remain on standby and monitor the situation from the ground. The fire erupted around noon at Taipower’s No. 17 wind turbine. Strong winds and summerlike temperatures caused the flames to intensify rapidly, per UDN. The blaze . . . Complete story »
Locals concerned after debris thrown from Newbliss wind turbine
Residents who live and work near a windfarm in Co Monaghan are worried for their safety after a blade on one of the turbines operated by Energia, broke last month. When a blade on one of eight turbines at Drumlins Park Windfarm which is located between the villages of Newbliss, Drum and Scotshouse broke on April 22, collapsed and suffered catastrophic failure, it shattered into fragments, which, scattered over the surrounding land. Some of the shards that were thrown from . . . Complete story »
Police warn of deadly debris risk as wind turbine burns near German Autobahn
An Enercon wind turbine near a German Autobahn in Bavaria caught fire over the weekend for yet unknown reasons, prompting police to close off the motorway temporarily. Several motorists observed heavy smoke billowing from the turbine not far from the A7 near the city of Würzburg, regional police in Franconia said. Shortly after emergency responders arrived, the structure was already engulfed in flames, and local fire departments engaged in firefighting operations, but couldn’t reach the burning nacelle at a height . . . Complete story »
Feuer am Windrad inzwischen erloschen – Absperrbereich bleibt
[A wind turbine caught fire near Kitzingen on the A7 motorway.] [Über dieses Thema berichtet: BAYERN 3-Nachrichten.] View this post on Instagram A post shared by NEWS5 (@news5.de) In Unterfranken musste die Feuerwehr am Samstagabend zu einem verzwickten Einsatz ausrücken: An der Autobahn 7 ist bei Kitzingen ein Windrad in Brand geraten. Die örtlichen Feuerwehren waren mit einem Großaufgebot vor Ort, wie die Polizei mitteilte – allerdings konnten sie nicht viel tun. Feuerwehr muss Flammen abbrennen lassen Gegen 18.50 Uhr . . . Complete story »
