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Wind (onshore)CanadaEIR-0914

Wind turbine blade snaps off during storm at Goshen Wind Project in Ontario

Aug 2015Published 16 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

MinorMechanicalProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersMedium confidence
turbine out of service for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hidden
Where
Goshen Wind Project, Kirkton Road, Grand Bend, Ontario
Operator
NextEra Energy
What
One blade snapped off a wind turbine in a storm
Injuries
None reported
Cause
Under investigation

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): NextEra Energy

What happened

During severe thunderstorms on the evening of 2 August 2015, one of 63 wind turbines at NextEra Energy's Goshen Wind Project on Kirkton Road in the Grand Bend area of Ontario had a blade snap off. Environment Canada recorded a wind gust of 110 km/h at Grand Bend around 8pm that evening, and the storms were reported to have produced intense lightning. A NextEra spokesperson said the turbines are fitted with wind speed and lightning sensors that typically guard against damage by automatically shutting down the spinning blades.

The company said it was trying to determine why the turbine failed. Agencies including the electricity system operator were notified, and the company said all other turbines at the site remained operational. No injuries were reported in the source, and the cause was not established at the time of reporting.

Contributing factors

Severe thunderstorm conditions, including a recorded wind gust of 110 km/h and reported intense lightning. The operator described automatic wind speed and lightning protection intended to shut down turbines in such conditions, but the reason for this failure was still being investigated and no cause has been confirmed.

Lessons learned

  1. Wind speed and lightning sensors on turbines must be tested to confirm they trigger shutdown in 110 km/h gusts.
  2. Operators should inspect every turbine on site after a severe storm, not only the failed unit.
  3. Agencies including the electricity system operator must be notified promptly after any component failure.

More lessons on weather and external hazards, emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Cause of the blade failure
  • Turbine model and age
  • Duration of any downtime
  • Cost of repairs

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

Source

sarnianewstoday.ca

Site page: Goshen (status, dates and other incidents)

Published 2026-09-16. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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Chart to reuse with this story: Wind (onshore) incidents in Canada, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

Wind (onshore) incidents in Canada: 24 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

Wind turbine fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one. Also: wind turbine blade failures and lightning strikes on energy assets.

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