The toppled wind turbine at Ardara can be seen on the left of the picture – donegaldaily
CAMPAIGNERS have questioned if the collapse of a wind turbine shows that Donegal isn’t actually suitable for the power-generating equipment.
Ernan O’Donnell from the Glenties Windfarm Information Group (GWIG) says the ‘continued silence’ over the Loughderryduff turbine collapse near Ardara on March 21 is leaving local residents in the dark.
So far the turbine manufacturers Vestas and the owners of the site North West Wind Limited have said ‘very little’ about the incident, say campaigners.
Donegal County Council insists it has been promised a report on the incident.
Vestas has insisted the collapse occurred during a period in which the wind’s strength was below the ‘shut-down point’ – in other words below very high speeds which can cause difficulties but within the range when it shouldn’t.
“County Donegal has been termed the ‘premium ‘ location for windfarming due to its high wind speeds,” said Mr O’Donnell.
“These high wind speeds are an average, which includes high speed gusts. Wind turbines have a mechanism, we are told, by means of which they can switch off when wind speeds reach a certain speed, over which speed it is deemed dangerous for the turbine to continue operating.
“Maybe this mechanism cannot activate quickly enough to deal with sudden high speed gusts of wind ? Maybe Donegal is not a safe premium location for windfarming ? Maybe somebody should inform/reassure us who live here in Donegal?” he added.
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