Suspected lightning strike damages Nordex turbine at UK wind farm near Manchester
EIR-0732Provisional entry. Confirmed: a Nordex turbine at a wind farm near Manchester was damaged in a suspected lightning strike with no reported injuries; the site, operator, turbine model, date and extent of damage are not yet reported. Next update: 17 September 2026.
A wind turbine supplied by Nordex was damaged at a wind farm near Manchester, United Kingdom, in an incident reported as a suspected lightning strike. Reporting indicates parts were sent flying from the turbine. Nordex said it was looking into the incident and that there were no injuries and no impact on the surrounding environment. The site, the operator, the turbine model and the extent of the damage have not been reported. Details are limited because the available reporting is short.
A lightning strike is suspected as the initial cause. This has not been confirmed by any completed investigation, and no other contributing factors have been reported.
- Turbines remain vulnerable to lightning damage despite modern protection systems, so lightning protection continuity checks should form part of routine inspection.
- Component ejection from a damaged turbine supports the use of exclusion zones and post-storm inspection before staff approach a machine.
- Early confirmation of whether neighbouring turbines share the same exposure helps an operator decide whether to curtail a wider group pending inspection.
Published 2026-09-15. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.