Turbine nacelle destroyed by fire at Pubnico Point Wind Farm, Nova Scotia

What happened

A fire broke out at the top of a wind turbine tower at the Pubnico Point Wind Farm in West Pubnico, Nova Scotia, Canada, in the evening. By the time fire crews arrived, the nacelle, hub and blades were fully alight. Firefighters were unable to reach the flames roughly 78 metres above ground and instead focused on protecting the surrounding forest and nearby homes from spreading embers. Crews remained on site for several hours until the fire burned itself out.

The tower structure remained standing afterwards, but the top assembly was destroyed. No injuries were reported. The cause was not immediately known and was under investigation. The site, operated by NextEra Energy Canada, had experienced a similar turbine fire several years earlier.

Contributing factors

Cause not yet determined at time of reporting; turbine nacelles contain significant flammable material including composite blades, foam insulation, wiring and lubricating oil, which can sustain intense fires once ignited. The site had a prior history of a comparable turbine fire.

Lessons learned

1. A nacelle fire at 78 metres cannot be fought from the ground, so the plan must rest on early detection, remote isolation and a debris exclusion zone.
2. A prior turbine fire at the same site calls for a review of maintenance, component ageing and fire detection systems.

More lessons on structural integrity and turbines, detection and monitoring, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

• Turbine model and age
• Cost of the damage
• Duration of downtime

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

saltwire.com