Blown Away: Atlantic Hurricanes Threaten Total Offshore Wind Turbine Wipeout

The purpose of a power generation source is, funnily enough, to generate power as and when it’s needed, not merely to withstand the vagaries of the weather. Wind speeds barely need to reach gale force and these things go into automatic shutdown, as appears on German turbine maker, Siemen’s website – which has this to say … Continue reading Blown Away: Atlantic Hurricanes Threaten Total Offshore Wind Turbine Wipeout

Wind Farms Keep Being Wiped Out By Wild Weather: Tornadoes and Turbines Don’t Mix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AAHJs-j3uw   These things are meant to save us from a changing climate but, when the weather turns wild, they can barely save themselves. 50-60m long blades, weighing in at 20 tonnes each, are usually the first item to be shredded and thrown in all directions (the wind industry uses the neutral term “component liberation”). … Continue reading Wind Farms Keep Being Wiped Out By Wild Weather: Tornadoes and Turbines Don’t Mix

Monumental Design Fail: Industrial Wind Turbines Simply Can’t Handle High Winds

When the weather turns nasty, giant industrial wind turbines simply turn off. When there’s no wind, they produce nothing; when winds hit gale force, they produce nothing. It’s as if their designers included Goldilocks, the porridge thief who wanted things “just right” and snubbed her nose at all that wasn't. Modern industrial wind turbines do not … Continue reading Monumental Design Fail: Industrial Wind Turbines Simply Can’t Handle High Winds