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Lightning is nemesis of windmills, threatening Japan's renewable energy campaign
But no definite way to solve the problem is in sight and operators of these windmills are struggling to cope with lightning-caused breakdowns that threaten their operations.
On Oct. 2, a fire broke out at the Sarakitomanai wind farm in Wakkanai.
November 4, 2011
in Mainichi Japan
SAPPORO -- As Japan moves to shift away from nuclear power, wind power, a potential key player among renewable energy sources, faces a stubborn foe: lightning.
Hokkaido hosts 266 windmills, the most among Japan's 47 prefectures, and about 90 percent of them are located along the Sea of Japan coast, where lightning frequently occurs between fall and winter.
But no definite way to solve the problem is in sight and operators of these windmills are struggling to cope with lightning-caused breakdowns that threaten their operations.
On Oct. 2, a fire broke out at the Sarakitomanai wind farm in Wakkanai. A lightning alert... [continue via Web link]
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