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Defective wind turbine near Dornstadt: dismantling and recycling planned!
A broken rotor blade from a wind turbine near Dornstadt will soon be dismantled. Research into causes and recycling plans in progress.
Defective wind turbine near Dornstadt: dismantling and recycling planned!
On February 22, 2024, a remarkable incident occurred near Dornstadt in the Alb-Donau district when a 40-meter-long, 15-ton rotor blade of a wind turbine broke off and fell in a field. The incident happened in the immediate vicinity of the A8 and the Stuttgart-Ulm railway line and fortunately there were no injuries. In addition to the broken rotor blade, four identical wind turbines were also taken out of operation for some time as a precaution, but an ultrasound test showed that no defects were found in these, so they are now back in operation, as swr.de reports.
The operating company EDF Renewables Germany is now planning to recycle the defective rotor blade. According to a report from the district office of the Alb-Donau district, a fatigue fracture in the attachment to the hub was the cause of the demolition, with the storm “Wencke” being considered a possible intensifier. This report should not only clarify the cause, but also be decisive for the further steps, because a dismantling and disposal concept for the wind turbine must be implemented in order to restore the original condition of the parcel [augsburger- Allgemeine.de](https://www.augsburger- Allgemeine.de/neu-ulm/a8-dornstadt-defektes-windrad-mit-abbruchem-rotorblatt-soll-abriss- Werden-14-06-109216744) reported.
Dismantling and recycling
Coordinating the planned dismantling and disposal measures is an important undertaking for the operators. An exact date for the dismantling has not yet been set, but the notice of closure has already been submitted to the district office. The dismantling will be carried out by qualified specialist personnel, and the operators are also obliged to regularly inspect the additional wind turbines in the coming years in order to identify safety risks at an early stage.
The dismantling measures not only include the demolition of the defective wind turbine itself, but also the proper disposal of the materials. According to umweltbundesamt.de, the aim is to carefully separate recyclable materials such as copper and aluminum as well as fiber composite materials in order to recycle the materials to a high quality. These tailor-made dismantling and recycling concepts are necessary to meet high environmental standards.
It is important for the supervisor to have a good handle on this measure and to take the requirements of the Federal Immission Control Act into account. However, it is also possible to repair the defective wind turbine, provided this measure can be implemented safely and in accordance with the existing permit.
Outlook for the future
It is still uncertain whether and when a new wind turbine will be installed in place of the damaged rotor blade. A complete approval process could potentially be necessary if the operating company plans to replace the system with a new model. The Celtic Schanze wind farm, to which the affected wind turbine belongs, was approved in 2003, which is why discussions about a possible successor solution have to take place on a small scale.
Regular care and maintenance of wind turbines remains crucial for their maintenance and longevity. It remains to be seen how the operators will react to the incident and what further steps will follow in the future. What is certain, however, is that the incident near Dornstadt is once again drawing attention to safety standards and the effective management of wind turbines.