One other blade has damaged off on the similar GE turbine that had already seen one in all its blades snap earlier this month at a wind farm in Germany.
The incident final week introduced the variety of damaged GE blades on the Alfstedt-Ebersdorf wind farm in Decrease Saxony to a few as a primary blade had damaged off final yr at one of many wind farm’s eight GE 5.3-158 generators.
Works had simply begun throughout the day on Thursday to hold out a managed drop of rotor blade elements that had been nonetheless hanging down from the blade that had partially damaged off on October 14/15 on the wind farm, when within the night on Thursday night one other rotor blade on the identical wind turbine snapped, developer and operator Energiekontor mentioned.
Nobody was injured, and no additional plastic elements of the bent rotor blade have been scattered within the speedy space.
The elimination work of the fallen particles from the primary incident, which has been ongoing since October 19 was interrupted for security causes.
Energiekontor mentioned it nonetheless doesn’t know the basis reason for both of the incidents, whereas investigations are nonetheless ongoing. The operator additionally has requested an announcement from the producer on the occasions, which has not but been made obtainable.
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GE has seen a number of incidents involving the identical turbine mannequin on the Björkvattnet wind mission in Sweden. The OEM has additionally suffered a earlier blade brake at one in all its flagship GE 5.3-158 Cypress wind generators at one other wind farm in Germany early final yr, the Bürgerwind Gronau Epe wind farm.
GE when contacted by Recharge primarily confirmed what Energiekontor mentioned, however offered no touch upon a doable relation to the Swedish incidents.
“A single wind turbine on the Alfstedt wind farm in Germany skilled a blade incident on Oct 15. A second blade that was broken in that preliminary occasion confirmed indicators of extra harm on October 26,” a GE Vernova Onshore Wind spokesman mentioned.
“The turbine was not working after the primary incident, and no accidents occurred because of both incident. We proceed to work with our buyer to find out the basis trigger.”
Energiekontor mentioned affected farmers and property homeowners within the surrounding space can report their harm from the primary harm occasion to the corporate. The operator will report the matter, study it and attempt to present fast help.
Farmers interviewed by public broadcaster NRD after the primary blade break had complained about inadequate data and help amid the suspicion that carbon fibre elements from the particles of the primary damaged blade may hurt their livestock if ingested.
Rotenburg district, which incorporates Alfsted, has requested Energiekontor to dismantle all rotor blades of the affected turbine and to submit an up to date timetable and motion plan by November 1st.
UPDATED with assertion by GE
