Broken wind turbine mystery: UFO, ice or mechanical failure?

By [slawlor]

AN investigation is being carried out after an 89-metre high wind turbine was damaged.

The Fen Farm site, at Conisholme, near Louth, has 20 wind turbines and its owner, Ecotricity, is examining how one turbine had a blade broken off and a second one bent.

A company spokesperson said: "We don't know yet what caused the problem.

"A team of engineers from the turbine manufacturer has been on site since Sunday to investigate. We hope to know more soon."

One local man has an idea about what may have damaged the turbine.

Dick Carbutt, of Nee Farm, in North Somercotes said: "As wind conditions were not exceptional I can only assume it was icing or structural failure.

"There has been research done into the dangers of icing, but that is usually with regard to the danger from flying chunks of ice breaking off the blades, not blades breaking off entirely.

"I do hope we are not placing to much reliance on this technology for our future energy needs.

"I'm glad I wasn't near it when that blade came off."

The mysterious damage to the wind turbine has generated a lot of online response through forums with some speculation that it was caused by UFOs.

Comments posted on the internet claim it could be a down to a UFO because of the size of the turbine, the force needed to break the blades and because there was no debris found at the sight.

Chairman of East Lindsey District Council Coun Robert Palmer (66) says he wants to be the first to greet aliens should they visit Lincolnshire.

"My wife and I saw a bright white light in the sky - as bright as a star but with a slightly red tinge to it," he said.

"It would be nice if it was a UFO and I would like to be the first councillor in the country to greet the aliens."

Others claim it could be down to the cold weather, as suggested by Dick Carbutt, or a failure with the speed limiter causing the blades to bend before breaking as demonstrated in some You Tube video postings (below).

As reported, Fen Farm – the largest wind farm in Lincolnshire – opened in April last year, and produces enough green electricity each year to power 13,000 homes.

But it has been blighted by controversy since it was approved in February 2006.

East Lindsey District councillors granted approval more than two years ago but residents and environmental groups opposed the construction.

They initially succeeded in persuading East Lindsey planning councillors to reject the turbines because of environmental impact.

A year later, councillors approved a second application from Ecotricity, which was for turbines larger than in the first application.