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Wind (onshore)CanadaEIR-1217

Wind turbine blade tip breaks in high winds near Tiverton

May 2018Published 24 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

MinorMechanicalProvisional1.8 MW
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 hiddenThe maker is named in 30 other entries (being named is not a finding of fault)
Where
Huron Wind project, north of Tiverton
Manufacturer
Vestas V80 turbine
What
Blade tip broke in high winds and dangled
Injuries
None reported
Response
Road closed overnight for inspection

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

What happened

On 4 May 2018, the tip of one blade on a 1.8 MW Vestas V80 turbine at the Huron Wind project broke in high winds and was left dangling. The turbine stands just off Bruce Road 20, north of Tiverton, near Bruce Power's off-site visitors centre. Bruce Road 20 was closed to traffic and was expected to stay closed overnight while the turbine was inspected, with repairs planned for the following morning once the wind eased.

The project, built in 2002, has five turbines. Environment Canada had warned of gusts of 90 to 100 km/h that afternoon for Saugeen Shores and Kincardine as a cold front moved through. The report does not mention injuries.

Contributing factors

The break happened during high winds linked to a cold front, with a regional warning for gusts of 90 to 100 km/h. A confirmed mechanical cause was not reported.

Lessons learned

  1. A blade tip on a Vestas V80 turbine can fail in high winds and leave debris that blocks a public road, so operators should close access routes until the turbine is secured.
  2. High wind gusts of 90 to 100 km/h linked to a cold front can damage turbine blades, so operators should inspect blades after each such forecast event.

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

Not yet known

  • Confirmed mechanical cause
  • Turbine downtime and repair cost

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

Source

lfpress.com

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

Published 2026-09-24. 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: 23 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.

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