Wind turbines prone to "catastrophic" fires

[Still Waters]

Wind turbines may catch on fire ten times more often than is publicly reported, putting nearby properties at risk and casting doubt on their green credentials, researchers have warned.

The renewable energy industry keeps no record of the number of turbine fires, meaning the true extent of the problem is unknown, a study backed by Imperial College London finds on Thursday.

http://www.telegraph...perts-warn.html

[Guest]

So a lack of evidence is proof of a 10x under reporting of fires. Weak is not strrong enough a word for this reporting.

Br Cornelius

[Doug1029]

Wind turbines may catch on fire ten times more often than is publicly reported, putting nearby properties at risk and casting doubt on their green credentials, researchers have warned.

It would be nice to actually dig up some evidence. One can find the records if one looks. Being too lazy to do the research is not an excuse for making assumptions.

Doug

[:PsYKoTiC:BeHAvIoR:]

Sounds like the hydro company is slandering wind energy. What's next? Solar panels are more likely to explode to too much sun exposure?

[Mr.United_Nations]

Sounds like the hydro company is slandering wind energy. What's next? Solar panels are more likely to explode to too much sun exposure?

No but in Neveda apparently they have contributed to many mass bird kills

[keithisco]

So a lack of evidence is proof of a 10x under reporting of fires. Weak is not strrong enough a word for this reporting.

Br Cornelius

From the article:

But the report, published in the journal Fire Safety Science, also back CWIF’s view that the true number is far higher.

It points out that the wind industry body, Renewable UK, has admitted there were 1,500 wind farm accidents and incidents in the UK alone between 2006 and 2010 - while just 142 individual accidents in the UK were documented in CWIF’s database over the same period.

This implies that less than 10pc of incidents are publicly reported

The truth is that Wind Farms (even single Generators) are not subject to the same safety procedures that apply to transportation (Air, Shipping, Rail, Cars) because they are not concerned with passenger safety. This means that the regulations that apply to Wind Turbines are vey lax. Reporting of incidents to regulatory bodies is not mandatory.

Wind Power is never going to be a long term solution because it is unreliable, Tidal power, and Circulatory Current power is the best way forward with today-s technology because the energy source is reliable, and does not need to blot the landscape.

Just think about it - a 5Mw turbine with 60metre blades generates a massive amount of heat at the Gear interface. Minor damage to the cooling system WILL lead to a fire / that cannot be argued. The journal "Fire Safety Science" is as highly respected in the field of Functional Safety as any other body from transportation services.

[Doug1029]

Wind Power is never going to be a long term solution because it is unreliable, Tidal power, and Circulatory Current power is the best way forward with today-s technology because the energy source is reliable, and does not need to blot the landscape.

Wind power can be made more reliable with a modern grid that allows power to be relocated continent-wide from places where the wind is blowing be places where power is needed. Wind power with an alternate backup, like gas turbines is completely reliable.

As for a "blot on the landscape:" I grew up living next to four belching smoke stacks from the CEI power plant. Windmills can't get as ugly as that. AND: you can't smell them 200 miles downwind.

Doug

[keithisco]

Wind power can be made more reliable with a modern grid that allows power to be relocated continent-wide from places where the wind is blowing be places where power is needed. Wind power with an alternate backup, like gas turbines is completely reliable.

As for a "blot on the landscape:" I grew up living next to four belching smoke stacks from the CEI power plant. Windmills can't get as ugly as that. AND: you can't smell them 200 miles downwind.

Doug

Unfortunately no such grid exists. Even if it did you would have to harmonise payments between nations and I don't see that happening anytime soon either. Gas turbines are extremely reliable (if expensive) wind turbines are not. You also have to ask yourself, if central Europe is underneath a high pressure area - very common in summer -then which nations are you depending on to supply you with spare electricity that is not being consumed in the country of production.?

Wind power is really old technology (the gearboxes and generators are 1950's technology) I would much rather see submersible Ocean current generators located just a few miles offshore that will provide reliable power generation irrespective of weather conditions. The UK is a perfect location for this,the technology is in place already, unfortunately the start - up subsidies are not

[Doug1029]

Unfortunately no such grid exists. Even if it did you would have to harmonise payments between nations and I don't see that happening anytime soon either. Gas turbines are extremely reliable (if expensive) wind turbines are not. You also have to ask yourself, if central Europe is underneath a high pressure area - very common in summer -then which nations are you depending on to supply you with spare electricity that is not being consumed in the country of production.?

The US already has one, though it needs some work (actually four + Texas). And the Northeast Power Grid includes parts of both the US and Canada. I don't see any problems here that can't be solved.

Wind power is really old technology (the gearboxes and generators are 1950's technology) I would much rather see submersible Ocean current generators located just a few miles offshore that will provide reliable power generation irrespective of weather conditions. The UK is a perfect location for this,the technology is in place already, unfortunately the start - up subsidies are not

Nobody is saying these can't be included. Each area uses the mix that works best for it.

Doug