Engineers investigating the failure during storms in January of a blade on a wind turbine installed offshore, one kilometre from the Northumberland port of Blyth, have decided that it was caused by a lightning strike.
According to early reports the blade folded in two. Amec, which owns the facility, initially blamed the failure on a crack in the blade. The company called in Danish engineers from the turbine manufacturer Vestas and both turbines were shut down during the investigation. The undamaged turbine has since been restarted and is operating normally. At first it was feared the breakage could be down to a stress fracture or fault in manufacture, throwing the system’s effectiveness into doubt, and indeed future of the offshore project itself. The fault was spotted by the Blyth Harbourmaster’s office after a night of strong winds, leading some experts to suspect the blade had given way under the strain. But those worries were dispelled after engineers examined the damaged rotor and concluded that it was the victim of an unlucky lightning strike.
The turbine maker may have to replace all three blades. How soon it can be done will depend on the availability of blades.
Trawlers have been advised to keep clear of the site but the company said there was no danger to the public.