Globally, 70-85% of Wind Turbines and 95% of Solar Assets are Not Adequately Protected from Fire
Despite high-profile incidents, millions in costs per incident, significant downtime, and risk of reputational damage, the vast majority of wind and solar energy assets, both new and old, are not adequately protected from fire.
Approximately 75-85% of operational wind turbines and 70-80% of new wind turbines globally, do not have fire suppression technology installed. This is despite the fact that the average turbine has a 1 in 100 chance of catching fire over an expected 20-year life, based on data from Wind Power Engineering. Replacing one turbine can cost up to $9 million, factoring in revenue lost from downtime. When it comes to solar, an estimated 95% of all solar inverters do not have fire suppression technology installed, according to Firetrace International, a leading provider of fire suppression solutions supporting safe operations in renewable energy.
Figures also show that fire risk dramatically increases in older assets, up to a 30% increase in wind assets aged between 5-10 years and up to a 15% increase in solar inverters after 3-5 years. With approximately a fifth of Europe's onshore turbines at least 15 years in age, and 14% of US wind capacity currently generated by turbines more than 10 years old, retrofitting aging assets with fire suppression systems is crucial. The fire risk is exacerbated by the fact that many of these assets are in remote areas, which delays potential emergency responses and increases the need for turbine specific safety systems.
There has been improvement in the outlook for wind turbine protection. In the US especially, huge levels of public investment is coming into the sector as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act to support US offshore capacity targets, and developers can take steps to manage the fire risk proactively. Many owner operators across the globe are leading the way in terms of safe operations and installing this technology and Firetrace has seen a 26% increase in installations over the last 5 years.
Biden also announced a $6 billion investment in November 2023 aimed at improving community resilience to climate change and strengthening the aging grid. Equipping renewable assets with fire suppression systems must be part of this grid hardening effort, especially as utilities face pressure from net-zero targets, portfolio scale, and potential fines from fire-related incidents.
However, despite these actions, only 20-30% of new wind turbines are installed with adequate fire protection and there is no change for solar inverters, with 95% of new assets still at risk.
Most renewable energy assets have fire detection systems installed but these merely identify the presence of a fire without actively addressing it. In contrast, fire suppression systems are essential for quickly and effectively extinguishing the flames, minimizing the risk of extensive damage and potential spread. By swiftly quelling fires, suppression systems help to protect not only the asset itself but also nearby ecosystems, communities, and infrastructure.
Owning approximately 72% of wind and solar assets globally and being committed to 2030 Net Zero goals, it is especially important for utilities to take the lead by installing fire suppression systems in both new and older assets.
Joseph DeBellis, Senior Global Sales Manager at Firetrace, said: “The increasing fire risks in aging renewable assets highlight the urgent need for utilities and other owner operators to take proactive measures. Retrofitting fire suppression systems is not only a cost-effective solution but also essential for protecting assets, minimizing downtime, securing clean energy supply, and ensuring the safety of surrounding communities.
“We have been supporting safe operations in renewable energy for nearly 15 years and have already installed fire suppression on over 15,000 assets. Firetrace stands ready to collaborate with utilities worldwide to implement comprehensive fire suppression solutions and mitigate the escalating fire risks in aging renewable assets.”
Engagement with local communities, vegetation management around assets, and adequate spacing between assets are additional critical measures that must be integrated into fire safety strategies. Firetrace works with developers and owner operators at design stage to provide customised solutions and has hundreds of partners across the globe including AHJs, local authorities and health and safety consultants who can support customers on local regulation and compliance.
Firetrace | https://www.firetrace.com/