Potential multi-billion euro engineering debacle
Due to unknown reasons, the 3.5-tonne housing unit protecting the generator came undone and plunged some 90 meters into the sea. As a consequence, Bremerhaven-based turbine manufacturer Adwen has suspended operation the 5-MW fleet in the German North Sea. Technical crews are not even allowed near them until further notice – that includes 120 other turbines at two other wind parks.
The Alpha Ventus wind park is operated by energy producer EWE, which pegs the financial losses resulting from the damage at 40,000 euros daily.
h/t raid
many more problems to come when these things need to be repaired or replaced, even on land.
Can you even IMAGINE the cost of repairing and renovating these hideous contraptions?! Out in the sea? Suffice to say it will cost far MORE€€€€ than the original “investment” in … “clean, green, renewable (intermittent), cheap, power generators”
The inner workings will be completely trashed by the harsh environment and need to be totally replaced.
So far, it’s only birds getting killed. Totally worth it, of course, if the enviro-nuts can feel good about themselves.
https://netrightdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/windmill-shredding-money.png
Losses? The wind is free dontcha know!
Even in ultra-blue Massachusetts, residents who live within a mile of wind turbines are complaining of headaches, sleeplessness, noise and, the fact that the damned things need constant repair. See: http://www.patriotledger.com/news/20180427/living-near-municipal-wind-turbines-has-residents-on-guard
It seems to me that those wind turbines are incredibly fragile, especially their blades. To me, they’re like spinning toothpicks.
If they are losing 40,000 euros per day, with subsidies, that means average Germans are gaining 35,000 euros per day.
I disagree Greg. They still get the subsidies, so odds are the average German is losing 45,000 euros per day.
You may be right, but I also heard they have drastically reduced subsidies in Germany, and they are now fearing that these monstrosities will be abandoned because even routine maintenance is too expensive without subsidy.
One can hope.
The housing ripped away because the Green Energy scheme came unglued.
it’s a tradition in the engineering community:
http://time.com/107403/from-fat-trains-to-collapsing-bridges-8-famous-engineering-mistakes/
so much for promoting STEM.
I saw an episode of a documentary series about engineering scaREWWWups the world over, including the N Sea wyynedfarm; the joint where the apparatus sits inside the top of the base could ‘slip’ in some manner and needed to be reinforced with some sort of bracket system. had to do with the constant twists and turns in the very friggin WIND required to operator. oh the irony . . . . cant recollect the name of the series so I cant provide a link.
IOW, these monstrosities have already been subject of very bad publicity.
is this going to affect ms wyynedfarm’s election chances? not in some circles . . . . .
Euro nation at its best