http://newenergyfocus.com/do/ecco.py...5§ion=Wind
"Truth is out there" says firm hit by mystery wind turbine failure
08-01-09
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Ecotricity is still looking for clues to Sunday's incident at Conisholme Fen wind farm, but health and safety officers have "no concerns" about the site
Engineers are investigating a damaged turbine at Ecotricity's largest wind farm, the 16MW Conisholme Fen Wind Farm in Lincolnshire, after an incident that has spawned local tales of a UFO visit.
One of the 20 turbines at the site near Mablethorpe was found on Sunday with one of its three 22 metre long blades missing and another bent out of shape.
Ecotricity's wind turbine supplier Enercon has been called in to examine the damage, with engineers scouring the site for possible clues to the mystery incident.
The green electricity supplier told New Energy Focus today that it does not yet have a plausible explanation.
But, a spokesperson said health and safety officers have visited the "isolated" site and had no concerns about the other 800kW-rated E48 turbines, which should be back in operation within days.
She said: "We've had engineers on site from Enercon, along with health and safety officers. They've been all over the turbines and sent pieces away for analysis.
"The turbines should be fully operational by the end of next week. The health and safety officers were on site, and they had no concerns."
UFOs
Unfortunately, we don't have a plausible explanation yet.
EcotricityThe Conisholme Fen wind farm began generating electricity on April 18 last year, with its turbines that have a hub height of 65m.
Locals in the Conisholme area have claimed seeing "strange flashing tentacle shaped lights" around the wind farm prior to the damaged turbine being discovered on Sunday. Others have said an object flew through the wind farm dodging one turbine before hitting another.
"Unfortunately, we don't have a plausible explanation yet," said the Ecotricity spokeswoman, adding: "The truth is out there."
Local wind farm protest groups have claimed the damage to the Conisholme Fen wind farm raises questions about other wind farm proposals in Lincolnshire, claiming the possibility of structural failure in wind turbines posed "unacceptable dangers" to local people and "a critical danger to motorists".
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