www.windaction.org | facts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impacts http://www.windaction.org/ facts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impacts en-us Windaction hourly 1 http://backend.userland.com/rss Vestas Issues statement on German turbine fire http://www.windaction.org/articles/34792 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:14:58 GMT The Danish wind giant is dealing with fallout from a fire on one of its turbine models. A number of operating turbines were paused following the fire, and the company responded to media questions this week. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34792 Vestas Pueblo plant cited for alleged safety, health violations http://www.windaction.org/articles/31953 Mon, 16 May 2011 12:56:32 GMT OSHA said Monday it has cited Vestas for one willful and 23 serious violations following an inspection of the wind turbine manufacturing plant. The inspection was initiated after an employee suffered a partial amputation of two fingers and a broken wrist in November. OSHA has proposed $164,000 in fines against Vestas. http://www.windaction.org/articles/31953 Wind turbines certified despite construction error http://www.windaction.org/articles/26568 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:22:27 GMT A construction flaw in the foundations of many sea-based wind turbines was not discovered by inspectors who approved the structures' operation One of the most common foundations for sea-based wind turbines has a critical flaw but was nonetheless approved by a Nordic certification company, reports trade journal Ingeniøren. ...‘It's something no one could foresee and can give any engineer nightmares,' he said. http://www.windaction.org/articles/26568 Two wind turbines self-destruct in one week http://www.windaction.org/articles/23927 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:42:50 GMT Wind turbine blades rip loose near Esbjerg and southwestern Sweden, one landing on a hiking path A malfunction on a Vestas wind turbine in the town of Falkenberg on Sweden's southwest coast could have resulted in tragedy, as one of the structure's large blades flew off and landed on a track used by hikers. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23927 Wind turbine collapse under investigation http://www.windaction.org/articles/14464 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:55:53 GMT On February 22 a 600 kW Nordtank wind turbine at Halling in eastern Jutland experienced a so called runwaway event causing its blades to spin out of control. Minutes later the blades collided with the tower and caused the turbine to collapse. In an unrelated event at Vig in Odsherred a Vestas V47 600kW wind turbine lost a blade. In both cases, Vestas assume that human errors in service and maintenance caused the events, but points out that they are in process of finding the accurate causes. http://www.windaction.org/articles/14464 Minister demands explanation for windmill collapse http://www.windaction.org/articles/14335 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:58:41 GMT The climate minister will begin an investigation into two separate cases of Vestas wind turbines collapsing within the past week The climate minister, Connie Hedegaard, is calling for an investigation to determine the cause of two violent wind turbine collapses in Denmark in the past week. Both of the windmills were produced by Vestas, and Hedegaard's request to the Energy Board comes after other breakdowns both here and abroad have been reported in the past two months. http://www.windaction.org/articles/14335 The Dangers of Wind Power http://www.windaction.org/articles/11519 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 10:51:07 GMT After the industry's recent boom years, wind power providers and experts are now concerned. The facilities may not be as reliable and durable as producers claim. Indeed, with thousands of mishaps, breakdowns and accidents having been reported in recent years, the difficulties seem to be mounting. Gearboxes hiding inside the casings perched on top of the towering masts have short shelf lives, often crapping out before even five years is up. In some cases, fractures form along the rotors, or even in the foundation, after only limited operation. Short circuits or overheated propellers have been known to cause fires. All this despite manufacturers' promises that the turbines would last at least 20 years. http://www.windaction.org/articles/11519 Mauri Johansson speech delivered at the Vestas 2012 general meeting http://www.windaction.org/articles/34791 Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:02:26 GMT Dr. Mauri Johansson, MHH, a specialist in community and occupational medicine, delivered this speech at the general meeting of Vestas on Thursday March 29, 2012 in Denmark. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34791 Final report on investigation of a catastrophic turbine failures, February 22 and 23, 2008 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21858 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Following the catastrophic failure of two Vestas wind turbines on Feb 22 and 23, 2008, the Danish energy agency requested an investigation into the events. A report was produced by engineers at Risø DTU. Below is the report translated into English. The original report, in Danish, can be accessed by clicking on the link below. A video of one of the failures can be seen here: http://www.windaction.org/videos/14294 . It is important to note that the debris from the first turbine failure which occurred on February 22 spread as far as 700 meters (2200 feet) away. Risø DTU is formerly a government research institution under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. http://www.windaction.org/articles/21858 Windmill in Denmark explodes (add'l footage) http://www.windaction.org/articles/14339 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:08:42 GMT This footage was taken at the moment a wind turbine in Denmark exploded in high winds. The braking system failed. Pieces of the shattered turbine were sent more than 500 meters away.

A second video of the same event can be viewed by clicking here.

Duration: 32 seconds

]]> This footage was taken at the moment a wind turbine in Denmark exploded in high winds. The braking system failed. Pieces of the shattered turbine were sent more than 500 meters away. A second video of the same event can be viewed by clicking here. Duration: 32 seconds http://www.windaction.org/articles/14339 Windmill in Denmark explodes http://www.windaction.org/articles/14294 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 23:57:20 GMT A windmill in Denmark collapsed during a storm in Denmark on Feb 22, 2008. The braking system failed while two technicians worked in the turret at the top. The technicians were able to get out before the collapse. Pieces of the shattered turbine were sent more than 500 meters away. Additional footage can be viewed by clicking here.

 

Duration: 40 seconds

]]> A windmill in Denmark collapsed during a storm in Denmark on Feb 22, 2008. The braking system failed while two technicians worked in the turret at the top. The technicians were able to get out before the collapse. Pieces of the shattered turbine were sent more than 500 meters away. Additional footage can be viewed by clicking here.   Duration: 40 seconds http://www.windaction.org/articles/14294