Monday, March 21, 2011

Iberdrola Halts U.S. Wind Farm After Suzlon Turbine Blades Fall to Ground

Iberdrola SA (IBE), the biggest producer of renewable energy, halted power production at a 150-megawatt wind farm in Rugby, North Dakota, after the blades of a Suzlon Energy Ltd. (SUEL) S88 generator fell from their mount.

The plant was suspended after the March 14 accident while Spain’s Iberdrola and Suzlon of India investigate the causes, according to an Iberdrola spokesman who asked not to be named in line with company policy. No one was hurt and there is no indication of when electricity production may resume.

Suzlon has signed contracts to deliver at least 1,257 megawatts of the 2.1-megawatt turbines to countries including China, Australia, India and Brazil, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The same model suffered cracked blades in 2008, prompting Suzlon to strengthen the components at a cost of $25 million, according to the Composites World industry website.

“In partnership with our customer Iberdrola Renewables, Suzlon is currently conducting an investigation into the cause of this incident,” Suzlon said in an e-mailed response to questions about the plant, owned by the renewable-energy unit of Bilbao-based Iberdrola.

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