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Wind Power News: Accidents: fire
See also: Wind Turbine Accident data (worldwide) at Scotland Against Spin
Turbine at Colorado wind farm collapses, burns
A wind turbine at a northern Colorado wind farm folded in half and caught fire Thursday morning, startling neighbors who heard banging noises prior to the collapse. [Click here for photos.] The incident was reported at 8 a.m. No injuries were reported. Oil and grease from the generator caught fire after the tower’s collapse. Personnel from the Peetz and Crook all-volunteer fire departments responded. Employees from Invenergy – a Chicago-based company which first owned the wind turbine field and now . . . Complete story »
Most of Alberta’s wind fleet shut down by cold Thursday night
UPDATE: By 7:28 a.m., wind output fell to less than 1 per cent of capacity. One of the first lessons any new engineering student learns in their materials class is “cold brittle behaviour” of materials. When it gets really cold, like −30 C or colder, many materials lose much of their strength and are prone to shattering. This applies to wind turbines as much as it applies to car bumpers. And as a result, most wind turbines are shut down . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine near Peetz collapses, catches fire
A second NextEra Energy wind turbine has collapsed in Logan County, this one near Peetz in an older wind farm. Firefighters from Peetz and Crook were called to the site near Peetz between 8 and 9 a.m. Thursday after one of the turbines apparently collapsed and caught fire. Logan County, Emergency Manager Jerry Casebolt told the Journal-Advocate word he heard at the scene was that the tower collapsed first and then caught fire. Casebolt said he believed NextEra personnel had . . . Complete story »
Safety fears after two Scots wind turbines broke apart during Storm Gerrit
An energy firm is being asked to investigate the safety of all its wind turbines after two broke apart during a storm. The Sunday Mail told last week how one in Ayrshire spun out of control during Storm Gerrit, causing the 34-metre blades to fly through the air. But around the same time, a turbine in Fife, also owned by Surrey-based Constantine Wind Energy, was destroyed in bad weather. Colin Morrison, from Crail, who spotted the debris on farmland close . . . Complete story »
Understanding arc flash risk in wind turbine renewables
With the increasing use of wind turbines as a renewable energy source, it is important to address the potential risks associated with arc flash incidents. Electrical Safety UK, Deputy MD Paul Hopton highlights the additional considerations in a wind turbine environment and emphasises the consequences of arc flash accidents. Let’s look at some of the accidents and incidents that have been reported: In Palm Springs, California in 2000 an operator suffered severe burns from electrical fault in a fuse holder. . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine fire in Nolan County
A wind turbine in Nolan County caught on fire Saturday morning. At 11:47 a.m. on December 30, crews responded to a turbine fire near the intersection of Highway 89 and 126. They also tackled some small grass fires. Ecca Fire Department, Mulberry Canyon Volunteer Fire Department, Nolan Volunteer Fire Department, and Lake Sweetwater Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene, and crews are monitoring the area for any remaining hot spots. Complete story »
Giant turbine blades scattered by storms leads to safety calls from locals
The giant blades of a 34-metre wind turbine broke off and flew through the air during Storm Gerritt. Dramatic footage of the incident also revealed large parts of the fibreglass structure were left embedded in the ground due to the force of winds during Storm Gerrit in Galston, Ayrshire. The damage was caused a few miles from a residential area and has led to calls for a stricter safety crackdown on turbines close to homes and businesses. A resident rang . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine spins out of control and flies apart
Storm Gerrit brought winds of up to 85mph on Wednesday. In such conditions, wind turbines feather their blades and brake the rotor. The brakes seem to have failed in a turbine at Newhouse Farm, Auchencloigh, in Ayrshire, which spun out of control until the blades broke and flew off. The dramatic event was captured on video, as posted on Facebook: The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service had received report of a fire before the turbine broke apart. The wind turbine . . . Complete story »
Fire-damaged wind turbine being dismantled
A wind turbine north of Goderich that went up in flames in June of this year is finally being dismantled. The blades and nacelle of the fire-ravaged turbine were being taken apart by a crane Tuesday. The turbine, located on Golf Course Road, caught fire in the early morning hours of June 3, 2023. Goderich fire crews contained the blaze to the turbine itself, letting the fire burn itself out after several hours due to the 100-metre height of the . . . Complete story »
Windkraftanlage bei Doberlug-Kirchhain brennt komplett aus
[A wind turbine near Doberlug-Kirchhain burned down completely. Two mechanics were able to rappell down in time. Because of the high altitude, the fire had to be left to go out on its own. Because of the smoke, a hazard warning was issued that residents should keep their windows and doors closed and air conditioning and ventilation turned off.] (Jens Berger) Bei Doberlug-Kirchhain brennt eine Windkraftanlage vollständig aus, zwei Monteure können sich noch rechtzeitig abseilen. Die Feuerwehr kann den Bereich . . . Complete story »
