WOW - We Oppose Windfarms - Fire, Lightning, Accidents

Wind turbine accident sparks widespread safety talk

Mon, 19 Feb 2007 10:21:43 -0500

HIGASHIDORIMURA, Japan -- Japanese officials are investigating the safety of foreign-made wind turbines began after a recent accident in Higashidorimura.

A 223-foot generator on the wind farm in the Aomori Prefecture fell when the concrete base cracked, The Daily Yomiuri reported. The steel rods that were meant to support it and secure it to the base were left.

Officials said the reason for the crash was still unknown but it was not likely the fall was caused by strong winds. It's designed to hold up in winds up to 134 mph, which is a high-rise building standard applied to wind turbines.

Bethany Wind Turbine Committee's January Report

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 10:56:11 -0500

I have obtained a copy of Bethany's "final" wind report. You can download it at http://www.effierover.com/downloads/ReportFinal.pdf

Don't know at this time if the town will offer it on their website (they usually do) or what the general reaction is.

Need a propeller?

Sat, 22 Jul 2006 12:47:13 -0400

On Samsø, a 55 kW Nordtank threw a blade through a window into an indoor swimming pool, according to one knowledgeable source.

— Paul Gipe, "Wind Energy Comes of Age"

20 Elephants for the small ones

Sat, 22 Jul 2006 12:47:13 -0400

If you weighed Zephyr, our wind turbine, it would tip the scale at a hefty 90 to 100 tons - about the same as 20 elephants.

— Moorhead Public Service Commission, MN

Industry means accidents

Sat, 22 Jul 2006 12:47:13 -0400

In the mid-1990s, 14 men had been killed on wind turbines or working with wind energy. Since then six more have died, including the first member of the public, a parachutist who literally flew into a turbine in Germany.

— Paul Gipe, "Wind Energy Comes of Age"

Downed Turbine, Germany 2002

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 14:19:44 -0400

(Translated from German)

February 19, 2002

WKA accident in Javenloch at the ostfriesischen coast.

Parts of the rotors flew up to 235 meters far, measured by pacing down, according to an observer from Jever.

Because no roads were in the proximity, nobody was injured.

Turbines Set Fields on Fire, California

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 14:10:34 -0400

(Apologies for the poor-quality image; scanned from the Herald, June 23, 1994)

The Alameda County Zoning Administrator approved strict new measures Wednesday to prevent grass fires sparked by Altamont Pass windmills, just as firefighters battled a searing windmill blaze off Vasco Road.

County officials in Hayward could not have known how timely their decision was.

An afternoon grass fire sparked by a turbine charred 10 acres in southeastern Contra Costa County, melting the windmill's machinery. At one point, the turbine itself burst into flames and had to be doused by several helicopter passes.

German Fire, 2004

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 14:05:47 -0400

(Translation of Donnerstag newspaper)

June 9, 2004

The tempest which swept over Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein yesterday morning caused damage to the value of serveral million (euros). The lightning strikes caused rail delays of approxinately 1 hour between Keil and Hamburg.

Nothing could save the wind turbine in the Wulfhagen wind park. Even with a fire appliance the firefighters could not reach the fire which was at a height of 65 metres (213 feet).

Wind farm fears as blade snaps

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 13:56:14 -0400

(reprinted from the Times, April 2005)

A TURBINE at a Scottish wind farm has broken down after one of its blades snapped off.

The 10-tonne turbine, one of 31 at the £80 million Crystal Rig wind farm near Dunbar, East Lothian, was destroyed last week when a mechanism to stop it spinning too fast failed. Onlookers reported strong winds and said one of the turbine blades flew off and hurtled into the countryside.

Aragon Province, Spain

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 13:46:00 -0400

This turbine in Aragon province, Spain, is leaking oil profusely. Repeated attempts to get the problem fixed have resulted only in promises.

Nissan Factory Fire

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 16:01:12 -0400

Another photo of the Nissan Factory Turbines on fire. Dec 2005.

Germany, 2002 Unexplained Vestas Fire

Sun, 02 Jul 2006 22:51:18 -0400

(Translated from German)

4.08.2002 - Cat mountain with Meissen/Saxonia

kind of accident: Fire

type: VESTAS V 80 - achievement 2.0 megawatts (according to another instruction a VESTAS V 66 with 1,75 MW)

age: Still brand-new and not yet started operation

operator: GHF wind park Heynitz Rekentin GmbH & CO. Kg in empty/East Frisia

source of information: Sp-on-line of 5.8.2002 and local information detail (original report sp):

UK, 2005, Nissan Factory Turbine Fire

Sun, 02 Jul 2006 22:37:45 -0400

(reprint from local newspaper "Sunderland Echo")

GLOWING IN THE WIND: The fibreglass blades burning.

A HUGE wind turbine went up in smoke in a massive blaze seen for miles across Wearside.

The 200ft structure at the Nissan factory, part of a £2.3million wind farm built in August, burst into flames just after 12.30pm yesterday.

The fire was so fierce all three 75-ft long fibreglass blades eventually dropped off and thick black smoke could be seen for miles around.