SAFETY
Turbine fi res result in huge fi nancial losses
TACKLING TURBINE FIRES
Turbine fi re risk management “falls through the cracks” due to lack of clarity around supply chain responsibility. How can this be remedied?
L
ack of clarity between wind farm owners and turbine manufacturers around ownership of fi re risk management is putting the industry
at greater risk of suff ering the damaging consequences of fi re. T is is according to Firetrace, a leading provider of fi re suppression technology, following the publication of its latest report, ‘Reducing Fire Risk’.
Although wind turbine fi res are
relatively rare, when one does occur, it often results in the total destruction of the asset, particularly if no fi re plan or
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suppression technology is in place. T is can lead to a fi nancial loss of between US$7-8 million, with damage going beyond the balance sheet. A fi re can result in a reputational mark against not only the turbine manufacturer, project owner, and operator, but the entire industry. T is can result in opposition to future projects, delaying the rollout of wind power needed to decarbonise the world’s energy supply and reduce emissions in line with international climate targets. T is clear risk has led most turbine
manufacturers to move toward safer designs and materials over the past decade. Most new turbine designs no longer incorporate elements that increase the risk of sparks, such as primary mechanical braking systems or failure protocols that result in rapid cycling of hydraulics, or fl ammable materials that could fuel a fi re.
However, Firetrace cautions owners and operators that the risk of fi re has not been ‘designed out’ and that this eff ort on the manufacturer side is only the fi rst step to managing fi re risk throughout the supply chain. Operational practices must also follow best practice to prevent catastrophic fi res. Angela Krcmar at Firetrace says:
“In any industry, a clear chain of accountability has to be set up to most eff ectively tackle fi re risk, and for conventional power, these steps are mandated by the National Fire Protection Association. However, in wind, many owners and operators understand that turbine manufacturers are taking steps at the design-level to reduce fi re risk and assume that no further action needs to be taken on their side. As such, key steps to prevent and put out fi res
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