With thousands of these things being speared into the backyards of closely settled rural communities, the risk of death and serious injury, only increases.
The wind industry (which really only got off the ground in the late 1990s and still generates a trifling amount of electricity) has clocked up around 220 fatalities, – see the helpful collection of wind farm death and injury stats compiled by Caithness Windfarm Information Forum all available here: https://scotlandagainstspin.org/turbine-accident-statistics/
Among the fatalities and injuries caused are those that result from vehicles being impaled by wind turbine blades or people being struck by flying chunks thereof.
These things have a wild little habit of unshackling their 10-15 tonne blades, and chucking them for miles in all directions – see our posts here and here and here and here and here.
Fortunately for the Yorkshire ramblers who regularly use a walking trail near Barnsley, none of them were on foot when a local turbine determined to liberate several chunks of its componentry.
Chunk of wind turbine debris crashes onto South Yorkshire path
Yorkshire Live
Danielle Andrews
17 March 2021
A wind farm has been shut down and popular public footpaths cordoned off after a huge chunk of debris flew off a turbine and crashed to the ground near Barnsley.
A loud bang was heard on Friday afternoon when parts of the turbine crashed on the nearby path.
Parish councillor Kevin Osbourne, who has called for a safety investigation, said it was lucky no-one was hurt after the failure at Park Spring Wind Farm near Little Houghton.
He said the path was popular with dog walkers and near to the ASOS warehouse, one of the biggest employers in the region.
The path, and others nearby, have now been closed to the public and all three turbines put out of action until operators EDF Energy find out what went wrong.
Cllr Osbourne, who wrote to EDF to demand a “full and thorough” safety investigation, said: “I am seeking safety assurance as the turbine is only six years old. This shouldn’t be happening.
“It wasn’t that windy, it was a blustery day. Debris is still hanging from the blade.”
In his letter to EDF, Cllr Osbourne wrote: “Given the Park Spring Wind Farm’s location close to popular public footpaths, a major road and large distribution warehouse, may I ask you also publicly share the reasons for this blade failure, coming as it did only six years into the working life of the wind farm.
“I would also ask that a full and thorough safety examination of the remaining two towers on the Park Spring Wind Farm be performed immediately to identify any similar faults.”
Piero Maggio, director of asset operations at EDF Energy said: “We are working closely with the manufacturer of the turbine, GE Renewable Energy, to look into exactly what has happened to the damaged machine at Park Spring.
“Already we have stopped the remaining two machines from operating until we know more.
“The damaged machine is cordoned off as are surrounding footpaths and we would like to thank the local community and the ASOS warehouse for their co-operation.
“We will only restart the two other turbines once we are satisfied they have been thoroughly checked and are safe.
“We would be happy to speak to the local councillor about his concerns.”
Yorkshire Live
Safety review at Yorkshire wind farm after debris falls from turbine onto footpath popular with dog walkers
Yorkshire Post
Danielle Andrews
17 March 2021
Councillor Kevin Osbourne, of Little Houghton Parish Council, has written to EDF Energy to demand that a safety investigation is carried out on the three turbines at Park Spring Wind Farm.
Residents reported hearing a loud bang on Friday afternoon (March 12), as debris was flung from the blade on to a public footpath which is popular with dog walkers.
The site is also close to the ASOS warehouse – one of the largest employers in the area.
Councillor Osbourne says it is lucky that no-one was injured, and that the paths have now been closed to the public by Barnsley Council.
Councillor Osbourne, who is also standing as Darfield’s Labour candidate in May’s election said: “I am seeking safety assurance as the turbine is only six years old. This shouldn’t be happening. It wasn’t that windy, it was a blustery day. Debris is still hanging from the blade.”
In his letter to EDF Energy, who operate the wind farm, Councillor Osbourne wrote: “Given the Park Spring Wind Farm’s location close to popular public footpaths, a major road and large distribution warehouse, may I ask you also publicly share the reasons for this blade failure, coming as it did only six years into the working life of the wind farm.
“I would also ask that a full and thorough safety examination of the remaining two towers on the Park Spring Wind Farm be performed immediately to identify any similar faults.”
Yorkshire Post
German wind industry provides safety lesson to locals.
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