Page 17 - North American Clean Energy January/February 2019 Issue

Over time, this irritation leads to scarring that causes permanent damage. e National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health cites studies showing that these inhaled particles could damage cellular mechanisms and
DNA, which could further promote
the growth of cancer cells.3 Similar problems arise when disposing of
these blades at the end of their lives. Research found that, “Combustion of GFRP (glass ber reinforced polymer)
is especially problematic because it
can produce toxic gases, smoke, and soot that can harm the environment
and humans. Carbon monoxide and formaldehyde have been reported as residue from thermal degradation of epoxy resin. Another residue is carbon dioxide, which poses concerns regarding greenhouse gas emissions.”4
In California, exploded turbine blade pieces were reported to have own 4,200 feet. Imagine this scenario with aming blade debris. Further, due to turbine height, re brigades are unable to reach the aming gear boxes, nacelles, and enormous blades. Widespread aming debris is also di cult to contain. Often, the only option is to stand by and watch these res burn.
Destruction of property surrounding the turbine re is not unusual, especially in dry, windy conditions. An example of this is the famous Australian re of January 17, 2017; the re resulted in the destruction of almost 3,400 hectares, or 8,401 acres. Included in the damage was a house, 300 hectares of pasture, 80 hectares of crops, 3 sheds, water tanks, and more. To demonstrate how simply a re of this magnitude can be started, it was determined that a bird ew into the wind farm high voltage line, caught re, dropped to the ground, and ignited the spreading re.
It’s more common for res to start
in the turbines, due to either electrical or mechanical problems. Electrical causes typically result from transformer and power converter systems that arc around cable terminations made during manufacturing. Other electrical res result from improper operations and maintenance practices. Mechanical causes are primarily a result of hydraulic brake systems and main shaft bearings that overheat; this tends to occur in high winds, during stormy weather, when the blades spin out of control and the brakes overheat and fail. Lightning strikes are a well-documented re hazard. Not all lightning strikes ignite turbine res. However, it’s conceivable that, as turbine bases climb higher
and blades grow longer, so does their vulnerability to lightning strikes. e sparking with ammable uids or vapor clearly poses a re risk. With more than 80,000 turbines currently in operation5, turbine res will continue to increase.
e industry has a long way to go in preventing, tracking, and reporting turbine res. Everyone who lives in the shadows of these giant machines deserves protection to property, livestock, the wildlife, and surrounding elds and meadows. Burned out and rusting turbines not only mar the landscape, but also the reputation of a growing industry.
Suzanne Albright is a Founding Member and Principal of the Great Lakes Wind Truth organization. She is also Executive Member of the group Turbines on Fire.
Turbines on Fire /// turbineson re.org
1 https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2014/windfarms-170714
2 Caithness Windfarm Information Forum 2018
3 Jared Paventi, Fiberglass Breathing Danger E ects, Aug. 14, 2017.
4 https://doi.org/10.1177/1048291116676098
5 https://www.awea.org/resources/press-releases/2018/doe- reports-distributed-wind-has-surpassed-1-gw
North American Clean Energy
17