Press Release

Press Release

Causes of Omaezaki Wind Power Station Unit 4 Blade Breakage

June 16, 2016
Chubu Electric Power Co.,Inc.

On March 28, Chubu Electric Power's Omaezaki Wind Power Station Unit 4 experienced a partial breakage in its blade tip, causing debris to scatter around the wind turbine.

Subsequent investigations determined that the breakage was caused by a lightning strike to the blade tip, which occurred in the early hours of the 28th. As a result, the blade tip was partially damaged but Unit 4 maintained automatic operations after the event, thereby aggravating the damage and scattering debris around the wind turbine.

As a countermeasure for the identified cause, Chubu Electric Power decided to equip wind turbines (11 units in total) with devices that automatically shut down operations when it detects lighting strikes on the turbine equipment.

Regarding the ten units excluding Unit 4 (the models are the same as Unit 4), we confirmed the soundness of the equipment upon conducting countermeasure work and inspecting wind turbines, and accordingly restarted operations today.

Meanwhile, reviews are currently underway on how to repair Unit 4's blade. We plan to restart operations after the fixing is completed.

Chubu Electric Power will continue to expend all possible efforts to manage the safety of its equipment and work to stably supply electric power to customers.

Overview of Omaezaki Wind Power Station

Location

Areas in Omaezaki City, Shizuoka Prefecture ((Sakura, Shirowa, Godo, Ikeshinden)

Maximum output

22,000 kW (2,000 kW×11 units)

Wind turbine specification

Manufacturer:Hitachi, Ltd.
Rotor diameter:80m (Blade length: 39 m)
Tower height:80.4m

Scheduled start of operations

Units 1-3:February 2010

Units 4-11:January 2011

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