The Des Moines Register’s Post

TORNADO WREAKS HAVOC ON IOWA WIND FARM A powerful tornado has directly struck a wind farm in southwest Iowa, causing significant damage to several turbines. The Orient wind farm, operated by MidAmerican Energy Company, suffered a direct hit, with five massive wind turbine towers crumpled and one bursting into flames. Eyewitness accounts and video footage captured the scene as the violent twister ripped through the countryside, uprooting trees, damaging buildings, and sending debris high into the air. Several turbines recorded wind speeds exceeding 100 mph before being destroyed. MidAmerican Energy, which has operated wind farms since 2004, described the event as an "unprecedented impact" on their wind fleet. While wind turbines are designed to withstand severe weather conditions, experts say few structures can withstand a direct hit from a powerful tornado. The incident has raised concerns about the potential impact of tornadoes on wind turbines, prompting discussions about updating industry standards and design codes to better account for such extreme weather events. Authorities are assessing the damage and investigating the cause of the incident. ⚡ Follow MPS (Modern Power Systems) for all the latest news daily from the global power generation industry ⚡ #MPS #power #energy #powergeneration #windenergy #extremeweather

#WindEnergy ⚡Lightning Strikes as a Major Threat to Wind Energy⚡ Yesterday, #WindTech24 witnessed the wind industry's keen interest in the topic of lightning strikes. During Stéphane's presentation, "Use and Benefits of Lightning Data-Driven Preventive Maintenance for Wind Turbines," many questions have been raised about lightning meteorology & detection, and, most importantly, available solutions. ⛔ Indeed, lightning poses a significant threat to the wind energy sector, leading to production losses, substantial repair costs, and jeopardizing the safety of field personnel. The reality of lightning strikes on WTGs: - 4 to 8% of all turbines sustain lightning strike damage annually (#IEC 61400-24), - 60% of operational losses in turbines are attributed to lightning strikes on blades (GRS expert claim services). 💡 To continue discussing this subject with a major impact on the wind power industry, don't miss our upcoming keynote on our revolutionary solution - Lightning Check Advisor - that optimizes wind turbine maintenance following thunderstorms. 📆 On Thursday, June 20 at 10.00 AM (CEST), you can engage with our specialists to discuss your lightning-related challenges and discover our innovative tool for managing your lightning risks. ➡ Follow the link and register now: https://lnkd.in/d2-mvSq8 Seize this opportunity to safeguard your wind energy assets! www.meteorage.com #windenergy #lightningprotection #WTG #maintenance #riskmanagement

Tornadoes, wildfires, and hurricanes can have a significant impact on renewable energy projects. Discover the importance of working with trusted advisors who understand catastrophe models and can help mitigate risks. #RenewableEnergy #CATRisk

Tornadoes, wildfires, and hurricanes can have a significant impact on renewable energy projects. Discover the importance of working with trusted advisors who understand catastrophe models and can help mitigate risks. #RenewableEnergy #CATRisk

Winter Storm Heather marked #Texas' third coldest storm in recent years. Reliable natural gas-based power generation effectively managed minor outages during the recent energy crisis, thanks to the strong performance of statewide #naturalgas production, #pipelines, and storage systems. This #FracFriday, dive deeper into how the natural gas sector tackled the frost with resilience and adaptability. Explore the energy dynamics that kept us resilient in the face of #WinterStormHeather.

Tornadoes, wildfires, and hurricanes can have a significant impact on renewable energy projects. Discover the importance of working with trusted advisors who understand catastrophe models and can help mitigate risks. #RenewableEnergy #CATRisk

High Wind Watch issued March 12 at 10:00AM PDT until March 15 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA Mojave Desert Slopes * WHAT...For the Wind Advisory, northwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. For the High Wind Watch, north winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. * WHERE...Mojave Desert Slopes. * WHEN...For the Wind Advisory, until 8 AM PDT Wednesday. For the High Wind Watch, from Wednesday evening through Friday morning. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates.

And another one bites the dust. "Casebolt tells us the cause has yet to be determined, and after a similar tower failure in the past near Flemming, it took several months for the project owner and operator to disclose basic details of what had happened. Readings from the Sidney Airport MesoWest station at the time indicated winds of 16 to 24 miles an hour and gusts up to 31 miles an hour, with a period of light freezing rain and ice fog that preceded light snow." https://lnkd.in/etG-eK8a #turbine #turbinefailure #wind #windenergy #windturbine #forensicengineering

Tornadoes, wildfires, and hurricanes can have a significant impact on renewable energy projects. Discover the importance of working with trusted advisors who understand catastrophe models and can help mitigate risks. #RenewableEnergy #CATRisk

🌟 Excited to share a project I've been working on at Windcrane! 🌟 As a frontend developer & project manager, I led the development of our new Historical Weekly Wind Report feature. This feature provides detailed insights into wind conditions that caused downtime, helping our customers in multiple ways: 🔹 User Interface Development: Implemented a responsive and intuitive UI to present wind data clearly and effectively. 🔹 Customer-Centric Design: Ensured the design reflects customer feedback, making it easy for them to analyze how wind speed affected their operations. 🔹 Detailed Analysis: Collaborated on creating a feature that offers evidence for weather claims and enhances on-site safety measures. 🔹 Integration and Testing: Integrated the frontend with backend services, ensuring accurate data representation and robust performance. 🔹 User Education: Developed documentation to help customers maximize the feature's benefits. Check out the details in the post below and let me know what you think!