Wind Turbines

31 October 2002

The storm "Jeanette" with speeds up to 130 kilometres per hour swept across the newly erected Tauernwindpark during the night from Sunday to Monday (27th and 28th October). The four wind turbines which already were in operation had to be turned off for safety reasons but even at the extremely high speeds had been producing electricity without any problem. The other four turbines which were erected but not yet in operation were not harmed during the storm.

However, the storm did severe damage at the construction site: although safety measures had been taken, a rotor blade on the ground was carried by the wind and crashed into a "spinner" (Spinner is the ring to which the rotor blades are attached). Three rotor blades and one spinner were irreparably damaged. The insurance will cover the damage costs of € 100,000 but completion of the wind park will be delayed for at least two weeks until the new rotor blades are delivered.

Ten wind turbines have been completely installed. The last nacelle will be erected on 1 November 2002 and the eleventh turbine will be finished as soon as the rotor blades arrive.

Until this date the turbines which have been in operation have produced more than half a million kilowatts of clean electricity.