News
Category:
Safety
Note: counts do not include items in sub-categories
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A Siemens spokeswoman explained that "when a turbine is curtailed, it means the load on the blade is significantly reduced compared to normal operation." The company said there were about 700 such turbines deployed around the world, with most - around 600 - in the United States, and all those turbines were being examined.
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
California]
A massive blade from one of the 112 wind turbines recently installed was found near a tower base Thursday, after plummeting onto the ground overnight, triggering safety concerns among officials and some residents. ...the project is now shut down.
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
California]
Company Shuts Down Wind Turbines Worldwide After SoCal Accident
May 17, 2013 by Chris Clarke in ReWire
May 17, 2013 by Chris Clarke in ReWire
Siemens does not yet know the root cause of this incident and is working to determine if and how this is related to a recent similar incident in Iowa. Today, Siemens is taking the step of curtailing all turbines with the B53 blade type globally. These turbines will remain curtailed until it can be determined they are not at risk of a similar malfunction.
The Iowa incident took place in April at MidAmerican Holdings' 200-megawatt Eclipse wind farm.
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
California]
The 315-megawatt Ocotillo Express Wind project in Imperial County is shut down today after a 10-ton blade came loose from one of the project's 112 wind turbines, landing about 100 yards away on a public road.
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
California]
Wind turbine blade throw incident at Pattern Energy's Ocotillo Wind Project
May 16, 2013 in Protect Our Communities Foundation & Backcountry Against Dumps
May 16, 2013 in Protect Our Communities Foundation & Backcountry Against Dumps
This wholly avoidable public health and safety hazard occurred just one day after San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved the revised Wind Energy Ordinance & Boulevard Community Plan to remove community protections to allow 500 foot tall industrial wind turbines on private land in previously protected areas near homes, recreation areas, and sensitive wildlife.
The 1.5-megawatt turbine was commissioned in March 2009 but was shut down June 18, 2012, after the gearbox showed significant wear. The faulty gearbox was no longer covered by warranty, and the manufacturer of the turbine, AAER Wind Energy of Quebec, is no longer in business. Three of five turbines of the same make and model erected in California and Templeton, Mass., also suffered gearbox failure.
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
Rhode Island]
Walkers had a narrow escape as blades on a wind turbine ripped off in high winds across common moor land. Walkers and local residents were stunned at what could have been a nasty accident and fear for further blade breakages.
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
UK]
In 11 letters sent to Ridgeline Energy - which has proposed 492-feet high wind turbines in the area - the administration warns that the structures would exceed height standards unless they were reduced to between 85 feet and 175 feet depending on the location.
Also filed under [
New York]
Commanders of bases like Cherry Point air station and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base cannot approve or oppose any wind turbine project under orders from the U.S. Secretary of Defense.
This bill requires that they be notified and would allow hearings on proposed wind turbine projects, which lie in the flight path or training areas for the military.
Also filed under [
North Carolina]
DTE replacing broken blade; Still no reason for turbine accident
May 3, 2013 by Nich Wolak in Huron Daily Tribune
May 3, 2013 by Nich Wolak in Huron Daily Tribune
Scott L. Simons, DTE Energy spokesman, previously told the Tribune that the utility received an alarm at 1 a.m., and later found that one of the blades at the Sigel site appeared to be damaged. Part of a blade had fallen and was on the ground. ...Last year, two GE-manufactured turbines experienced broken blades in East Central Illinois.
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
Michigan]
Lightning damages wind turbine; Another storm has caused problems for the wind turbine
May 2, 2013 in El Dorado Times
May 2, 2013 in El Dorado Times
An inspection of the damage was performed on Wednesday confirming a lightning strike. Results of the inspection show the damage does not appear to be extensive.
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
Kansas]
Wind topples turbine in Ellensburg; minor flooding of Mercer Creek
May 1, 2013 by Brian Myrick in Daily Record
May 1, 2013 by Brian Myrick in Daily Record
A wind turbine at the city of Ellensburg's Renewable Energy Park toppled over on Monday, buckling under wind speeds of more than 30 mph and gusts as high as 45 mph.
Gary Nystedt, city resource manager, said city staff will start going through the turbine's wind speed data to figure out exactly when it came down.
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
Washington]
Wind turbines 'could allow enemy jets to sneak into British airspace'
April 26, 2013 in The Telegraph
April 26, 2013 in The Telegraph
The Ministry of Defence is fighting plans for two giant wind turbines over fears the towers could mask enemy jets entering British airspace. ..."The creation of 'false' aircraft display on the radar leads to increased workload for both controllers and aircrews and may have a significant operational impact.
Also filed under [
UK]
$4-million turbine fire at Kibby Mountain puts wind energy under new scrutiny by state, opponents
April 23, 2013 by Whit Richardson in Bangor Daily News
April 23, 2013 by Whit Richardson in Bangor Daily News
Turbine fires have been known to start forest fires, according to the Confederation of Fire Protection Associations in Europe, which in September 2012 released a document of best practices and guidelines of how to handle fires at wind farms.
The European document warns that these type of forest fires can be difficult to extinguish.
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
Maine]
Defence chiefs say a planned wind farm could stop the RAF from spotting enemy planes bound for Britain.
The MoD says a wind farm planned for Hill of Braco, Aberdeenshire, would hurt a nearby radar station's ability to "detect threats to UK airspace".
Also filed under [
UK]
An F-15E Strike Eagle drops through the sky on a low-level training mission and encounters - a wind turbine.
With turbine blades reaching within 8 feet of F-15s on missions out of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, the proposed Pantego Wind Energy project resulted in a serious risk.
Also filed under [
USA|
North Carolina]
A 90ft turbine in Aberdeenshire has fallen after being battered by 70mph gales.
"It's worrying because there are so many turbines in this area. If someone had been walking by when this came down it could have been very serious."
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
UK]
A blade on a wind turbine broke loose and landed in a field in Adair, Iowa. KCCI reports officials said they are still trying to figure out what went wrong. The turbine manufacturer is leading an investigation into the accident.
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
Iowa]
FAA considers decommissioning navigation device at B.I. Airport; Says Deepwater Wind project may impact signal
April 7, 2013 by Stephanie Turaj in Block Island Times
April 7, 2013 by Stephanie Turaj in Block Island Times
"This is really important for people who are flying in bad weather to be able to land," said pilot Henry duPont, an island resident. Without the Sandy Point VOR, pilots without more advanced GPS technology would not be able to fly to Block Island legally, duPont said.
Also filed under [
Rhode Island]
Dan Morgan “saw an orange fireball a couple of miles from the front yard, so I thought I better investigate this,” before driving over to get a closer look.
The Goderich Fire Department was called to the scene, but with the blaze 100 metres in the air, there was little that could be done.
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
Canada]
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