Wind Turbine Safety
Modern wind turbines are obviously designed with safety in mind. For example, they may have atmospheric sensors to detect when ice may form on the blades. In such conditions, the turbine should shut down to prevent "ice throw" - chunks of ice being flung from the blades at high velocity.
Despite these precautions, accidents can, and do happen. The Caithness Wind Farm Information Forum has compiled accident statistics; here is what they have to say:
"The trend is as expected - as more turbines are built, more accidents occur. Numbers of recorded accidents reflect this, with an average of 16 accidents per year from 1995-99 inclusive; 48 accidents per year from 2000-04 inclusive, and 105 accidents per year from 2005-09 inclusive. Indeed over the past three years (2007-09) the average has been 124 accidents per year."
To download the statistics, click on the "accidents.pdf" link below. Please note that these accident statistics are copyright Caithness Windfarm Information Forum 2010, www.caithnesswindfarms.co.uk.
accidents.pdf Download File
Ice ThrowUnfortunately, it seems that the technology to detect ice formation on turbine blades is not foolproof. "Ice throw" can occur when chunks of ice are flung from the moving blades of a turbine. One such incident was reported in the Peterborough Evening Telegraph.
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The blades keep turning... This video shows an example of snow and ice build up on the blades of a large wind turbine... which continues to operate, despite assurances that it would automatically shut down in these weather coniditions. |
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