Study backed by British Imperial College finds wind turbines prone to "catastrophic" fires but the true scale of the problem is unknown. For example, a £2 million, 100 metre tall wind turbine caught fire in hurricane-force winds at Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland.
Wind turbines may catch on fire ten times more often than is publicly reported, putting nearby properties at risk and casting doubt on their green credentials, researchers have warned.
The renewable energy industry keeps no record of the number of turbine fires, meaning the true extent of the problem is unknown. There could in fact be 117 turbine fires each year, based on analysis showing just 10pc of all wind farm accidents are typically reported.
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