Wind turbine at Cargill Hull factory damaged by fire

What happened

The wind turbine at the Cargill factory in Hull caught fire in August 2022. The incident prompted a large emergency response. The turbine, built in 2008 and standing 125 m tall beside the River Hull, had been part of the skyline for over 15 years. In June 2023 the blades were being taken down by a large mechanical arm. Cargill said a specialist contractor was dismantling the rest of the tower, with work aimed at completion by mid-July 2023. The company said the cause remained under investigation until the turbine was dismantled and fully assessed.

Contributing factors

Reporting said the fire was thought likely to have been triggered by an electrical or mechanical fault. Cargill said the cause was still under investigation.

Lessons learned

1. After a turbine fire, treat the cause as unknown until the damaged structure has been dismantled and assessed.
2. Taking down a tall fire-damaged turbine needs specialist contractors and close work with the safety regulator.
3. Operators should plan for a long gap between the fire and safe removal, and keep nearby parties informed while that work continues.

Source

hulldailymail.co.uk