An article in the January, 2008 issue of Wind Power Monthly titled, “The Big Challenge is to Keep Them Spinning”, explains that unproven equipment combined with “spotty” maintenance and a shortage of experienced technicians is making failures like the one shown here more commonplace. A two year warranty on parts is the standard.

This summer the first Chinese Mingyang wind turbines will be put up in Montana. The first and only model was put up last August. They’ve come straight from the drawing board. One wonders if they will perform like other recent Chinese imports.

DANISH TURBINE EXPLOSION 2/23/08

Sharp pieces flew 500 metres away

“It is less than two days since another Vestas turbine totally collapsed on Djursland. In that case the turbine ran out of control, and video records show that the blades bent under the enormous pressure and hit the tower. The collision with the tower and the high rotational energy of the blades got the wings almost to explode, and the solid steel tower broke like a piece of straw. Large, sharp pieces of glass-fibre from the blade then rained down over all the field which lay east of the turbine, - right up to 500 metres away from the base of the turbine.” published by Kent Krøyer in Ingeniøren http://ing.dk/artikel/85923

The Danish Climate and Energy Minister, Connie Hedegaard said that, “I expect that both wind turbine owners and manufacturers explain publicly how they will ensure that we will not see more of this kind of event. Abroad, the problem with similar incidents has been that the turbines have not been maintained well enough, and if the same is true here I expect a clear statement on how one will ensure that maintenance will be brought into order”.