You know the advice of experts when it comes to thunderstorms. You don’t need the weatherman or the government to tell you that there is no safe place outdoors during a storm. Unfortunately for wind turbines, that adage presents a problem.
On December 8, 2011, Scotland experienced hurricane-force winds that took their fury out on a wind turbine that caught fire and spewed debris in all directions. A second turbine was also damaged. Thankfully, no one was hurt. This incident, however, illustrates another risk of wind turbines and is under investigation.
The company, Infinis of Scotland, has a safety policy in place to vacate the wind farm when wind speeds exceed 55 mph as a precaution. In this case, a standard company practice prevented injuries to its staff and is to be commended. The incident raises questions regarding the safety of wind turbines, especially in residential areas.
The storms in Scotland were an exceptional situation. Consider the facts about thunderstorms. According to the NOAA, 1,800 thunderstorms occur at any given moment across the globe. This translates into a figure of about 16 million a year. About 100,000 thunderstorms occur in the United States, with about 10 percent classified as severe. One of the criteria is wind speeds over 58 mph.
Because thunderstorms are so widespread and unpredictable, construction of wind turbines in residential areas may place additional risks on homeowners. Physical injury was averted in Scotland because the area was vacant.
As small wind projects increase, communities should take into account the lessons learned from the Infinis wind farm situation. This is especially so in light of the impact of climate change on weather. Scientists warn of an increased risk of extreme weather, such as the type that caused this accident.
The solution, of course, is not to abandon wind power. The Infinis wind farm, for example, provides clean energy to nearly 30,000 homes. What this incident shows is that placement of wind farms carries risks. The 2006 National Academy of Medicine in France’s report may not have had this scenario in mind when it recommended that wind turbines be located no less than one mile from dwellings. Yet, wind power may better serve the community if it is placed out of harm’s way.
