What fails in wind
282 wind incidents from public reporting, 2000 to 2026. The parts each entry's own reporting mentions, counted; and, for the records the register has classified, the component and the mode where one was established.
Where the reporting mentions a part, blade is mentioned most often: in 104 of the 282 entries, then tower or foundation (47) and nacelle, gearbox or generator (42). In 119 entries the reporting mentions none of these parts. A mention is not a finding of fault.
Parts mentioned in the reporting
| Part mentioned | Entries | |
|---|---|---|
| Blade | 104 | |
| Tower or foundation | 47 | |
| Nacelle, gearbox or generator | 42 | |
| Vessel, crane or lifting | 32 | |
| Transformer or electrical system | 8 | |
| Not stated | 119 |
Component and mode, from the classified records
Component and mode: 39 wind records on the register have an approved record with a controlled component and mode, and 19 of those have no mode established in any public source. The component and mode of each record are in the paid record; these are the counts.
| Component | Records | Mode, where established |
|---|---|---|
| Blade | 13 | external event 2, mechanical failure 2, human or procedural 2 |
| Nacelle or gearbox | 9 | electrical fault 2, mechanical failure 1, human or procedural 1 |
| Tower or foundation | 5 | external event 3, mechanical failure 1 |
| other | 1 | human or procedural 1 |
| structure_building | 1 | mechanical failure 1 |
| Switchgear or breaker | 1 | not determined |
| Not stated | 9 | human or procedural 2, external event 2 |
Questions answered
What fails most often on wind turbines?
Where the reporting mentions a part, blade is mentioned most often: in 104 of the 282 entries, then tower or foundation (47) and nacelle, gearbox or generator (42). In 119 entries the reporting mentions none of these parts. A mention is not a finding of fault. Component and mode: 39 wind records on the register have an approved record with a controlled component and mode, and 19 of those have no mode established in any public source. Each entry says what its sources established and nothing more.
What causes wind turbine fires and collapses?
88 of the 282 wind entries are fires or thermal events. 157 mechanical, 88 thermal / fire, 22 other, 11 electrical, 1 near-miss, 1 commissioning, 1 control system, 1 gas release across the whole set. Where a fire service, regulator or operator stated a cause, the entry carries it and says who said it; where none did, the entry says so.
How many wind incidents are on the register?
282 entries from 34 countries, 2000 to 2026, 76 of them classed as major. Every entry is written from published reporting with its sources and is free to read.
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More: every wind entry · what fails in the other technologies · data centres.