Study on fire risks of wind turbine blades

Wind turbine blades were fire tested and fire risk calculated, showing risk of blade blocks, ground fires and air pollution. Development of fire protection and suppression systems is considered urgent. Commercial wind turbine blades, made of glass fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester resin composites, were fire tested for heat release, limiting oxygen index, vertical flame test, smoke and carbon monoxide emissions, showing UL 94 NR (non rated), that is not fire resistant. Fire hazard risks were calculated, based on real fire scenarios. Conclusions are that such non fire resistant turbine blades would deform and disintegrate in fires, with possible blade blocks and with burning fragments causing spotting fires, ground fires and local air quality problems (soot, fragments, liquid and gas emissions including corrosive and toxic substances).

“Thermal and non‑thermal fire hazard characteristics of wind turbine blades”, N. Wang et al., Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (2024) 149:10335–10351, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-024-13462-4