Making the case for wind-turbine fire detection and suppression systems

The wind energy sales pitch is that fires are rare, but fires can not be that rare if there are specific systems and discussions by the industry on the issue.

If there can be brush fires, there can be forest fires.

By Michelle Froese | September 3, 2015
Electrical fires in wind turbines can result from shorts in equipment and surges from lightning strikes. Secondary wind-driven brush fires can also result in additional damage.
Electrical fires in wind turbines can result from shorts in equipment and surges from lightning strikes. Secondary wind-driven brush fires can also result in additional damage.

Fire provides the second highest risk of damage to wind turbines after blade failure. A fire can spark because of mechanical failure, electrical malfunction, or a lightning strike. These sparks can ignite flammable materials inside the nacelle such as resin, fiberglass, or insulation contaminated with oil deposits.

Once a turbine catches fire, there are limited suppression options because of the height of the tower and remote location of most turbines. Unless the nacelle is already equipped with a fire-suppression system, about the only option is to let the fire burn out.

The problem is bigger than most people and even those in the industry realize because most turbine fires go unreported. In the last four years, 30 large wind-turbine fire incidents were covered in the mainstream media, causing property damage of between $750,000 to $6 million each …

via Making the case for wind-turbine fire detection and suppression systems