Haliade-X blade failure | Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE)

Posts Tagged ‘Haliade-X blade failure’

The “highly unusual and rare” talking point for turbine blade failures seems to have finally been discarded.
3 new GE Haliade-X blades failed shortly after installation at Dogger Bank and Vineyard Wind. A total of only 48 turbines had been installed.

Offshore wind project	Haliade-X turbines installed	blade failures
Dogger Bank	27	2
Vineyard Wind	21	1

Siemens Gamesa and Vestas, the other 2 leading manufacturers, have also experienced unacceptable failure rates.
One of the reasons for waiving the “pay as you build” financial assurance requirement for Vineyard Wind was “the use of proven wind turbine technology.”
Dr. Edgar Gunter (RIP 😢), founder of the University of Virginia’s Rotor Dynamics Lab, suggested the cause of the Vineyard Wind blade failure was not a material bonding problem, but rather “a classical torsional fatigue failure of the blade at the base.” (His message is attached.)
The offshore safety regulator (BSEE) has a very capable technical staff and should produce an informed report on the Vineyard Wind blade failure. The concern is with the internal review process that has seriously delayed the publication of accident investigation reports and safety alerts.
Presumably, DNV, the Vineyard Wind CVA, will provide input into the BSEE investigation. Perhaps the effectiveness of the CVA process and quality control procedures should be separately considered.
Will Equinor, a major oil and gas producer, Dogger Bank partner, and offshore wind advocate, be investigating the Dogger Bank failures?
A comprehensive International data base on turbine incidents and performance is needed.
As previously noted, offshore substations are large structures. A closeup of the Vineyard Wind 1 substation is pasted below.