Wind turbine blade accidents

What is the most common accident with wind turbines?

Our data clearly shows that blade failure is the most common accident with wind turbines, closely followed by fire. This is in agreement with GCube, the largest provider of insurance to renewable energy schemes.

What happened at the site of a wind turbine accident?

Photos taken at the site of the accident show two turbine blades resting on metal scaffold. Another blade is lying on the ground next to pieces of scaffolding that were tipped on their side. Workers were also seen gathered in a nearby paddock.

Why did a 71-metre-long wind turbine blade collapse?

The collapse of the 71-metre-long (232 ft) wind turbine blade comes at a time when nearly half of the machines at the site are not working amid an ongoing process conducted by turbine maker Siemens Gamesa for the repair of previously identified manufacturing defects. Fifteen out of the 34 turbines were stopped in March.

What happened to a giant wind turbine blade?

A giant wind turbine blade fell into the sea. It washed up on Nantucket. The accident south of Cape Cod, Mass., involving the country’s largest offshore wind farm, is galvanizing opposition to such projects. A damaged turbine blade now marks Vineyard Wind, the largest offshore wind project in the United States. (Burton Balkind)

Why did a wind turbine blade go bad?

"It’s not yet known if that was the result of a faulty installation or an issue with the blade quality itself, but that is the concern," said Chris Dendrinos, a clean energy industry analyst at RBC Capital Markets, referring to the Vineyard Wind incident.

How many people died from wind turbine accidents?

Of the 236 fatalities: 142 were wind industry and direct support workers (divers, construction, maintenance, engineers, etc), or small turbine owner/operators. 94 were public fatalities, including workers not directly dependent on the wind industry (e.g. transport workers, ecologists).