Wind turbines taller than the Statue of Liberty are falling over

by Ryan Beene & Josh Saul, Bloomberg | Source: Bloomberg | Posted 01/23/2023

Breakdowns of towers and blades have bedeviled manufacturers in the U.S. and Europe.

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Recent wind turbine malfunctions, including collapses and component failures, have raised concerns about the reliability and safety of these renewable energy sources. Instances of turbines from major manufacturers such as General Electric falling and experiencing mechanical issues have led to significant costs for the industry and could impact insurance costs and financing for wind farm projects. The push for larger and more powerful turbines may be contributing to these failures, with challenges arising from rapid innovation and strained manufacturing processes.

Turbine makers like GE, Vestas, and Siemens Gamesa are now focusing on improving quality and reliability of their products amidst mounting warranty costs and production challenges. While the global wind industry has seen massive growth in installed capacity, issues like material costs, supply chain disruptions, and design flaws are threatening to hinder further expansion, particularly in the US offshore wind sector. Despite these setbacks, there remains a strong investment drive towards green projects, although concerns from insurers and lenders about untested turbine models and reliability issues are starting to emerge.

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Source Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-23/wind-turbine-collapses-punctuate-green-power-growing-pains?leadSource=uverify%20wall

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Wind turbines taller than the Statue of Liberty are falling over

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