Ask us a question

    Repairing lightning damage on a wind turbine in Scotland

    Owing to their great height and their location on flat plains with nothing much else around them, wind turbines are lightning magnets and strikes can cause significant damage. This damage can include exploding blades or fried generators and control system electronics. Though turbines are designed to withstand a certain amount of lightning, there is always a risk that their limits may be exceeded. When lightning damage occurs, it is important to repair it quickly due to the loss of earnings while the turbine is shut down. Repairs can be complex, requiring a special methodology of access to repair the damaged part or the complete removal of the blade from the turbine.

    In March 2021, RSK company CAN Renewables was asked by a client to perform blade repair work on four wind turbines, one of which had been damaged by lightning strikes, at a site in Scotland. The project came with a tight deadline, as the client requested that this work was carried out before the end of the financial year. The damage caused by the lightning consisted of the glass fibre layers splitting apart due to a strike to the blade that narrowly missed the lightning protection system’s external receptor and hit the internal system under the surface.

    The lightning strike repair work presented two particular challenges: the first was the weather, as many composite repair materials for wind turbines can only be used within certain temperature or humidity parameters. To solve this, we sourced a new product and method to carry out the repairs in cold and high humidity conditions. The second challenge of this project was assembling a team at short notice with all the materials required for the repairs. CAN Renewables mobilised two qualified blade repair technicians to complete the work using a truck-mounted mobile elevated work platform.

    We removed all the damaged layers to expose the extent of the required repair. Our technicians then measured up the areas that needed repair with fibreglass and epoxy resins. Once they had applied the new layers of glass fibre, the technicians then enclosed the area in an airtight covering. When the area was sealed, they then removed all the air using a vacuum pump. This removed any air from the glass fibre and bonded all the freshly applied layers together. Once the vacuum was running, the technicians applied a heat blanket on a high heat setting over the area to cure the resin.

    Once the resin was cured, they then applied filler to the whole area and allowed it to cure, then sanded it to the correct profile of the blade. During this repair, they removed the lightning protection system receptor, tested it for resistance and reinstalled it. Our technicians applied a two-part topcoat to the area once the repair was complete.

    The repair work on all the turbines was completed within the tight deadline, thanks to CAN Renewables’ innovative thinking and the fast mobilisation of engineers.

     

    • Location: Scotland
    • Project status: Complete
    • Clear filters
    Found 212 Results
    Page 1 of 18
    Supporting the creation of a new garden village in Cheshire
    View Project
    Repairing lightning damage on a wind turbine in Scotland
    View Project
    Helping Singapore meet its future waste disposal needs
    View Project
    Designing and assessing an onshore wind farm in the Highlands of Scotland
    View Project
    Designing and assessing proposed windfarms in Scotland
    View Project
    Environmental and social risk appraisal support for African “power-to-x” development
    View Project
    Consulting on the construction of the Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant, Singapore
    View Project
    Bringing international best practice and process to phase 2 of Singapore’s Deep Tunnel Sewerage System
    View Project
    Facilitating renewable energy investments in Europe
    View Project
    Ensuring shale gas projects for Poland and beyond
    View Project
    Providing award-winning storm water solutions for urban flooding challenges
    View Project
    Upgrading sewage treatment facilities to serve community needs in Hong Kong
    View Project

    📸 #SelfiesOnsite 🤳

    RSK Middle East Majnoon Surveying Team on their 270th day on site, with 129,186 miles driven & 43,632 hours worked. 💪

    Want to join our team? View our latest opportunities

    #MiddleEast #RSKfamily #TeamWork #Surveyor
    ...

    We are excited to become the official lead partner of @Pledge_ball, a research-driven charity that engages football and sports fans on environmental sustainability 🤝

    ⚽ "We are thrilled to be taking the sustainability message to the pitch with Pledgeball and together addressing emissions and driving the shift towards a more sustainable world”

    ➡️ Follow the link in our bio for our latest news

    #ClimateChange #Football #Sustainabilty #Environment
    ...

    📸 #selfiesonsite 🤳

    Sam Turner, land surveyor, working on site 👏

    Want to join our team? View our latest opportunities

    #RSKonsite #BehindTheScenes #RSKfamily #Teamwork #RSKgroup
    ...