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Friday, Feb. 19, 2021

Can wind power turbines operate in all kinds of severe weather?

Lisa Freedland, Gigafact Foundry
no

Wind farms can be susceptible to extreme weather like lightning, high-speed winds or freezing temperatures.

While the turbines’ blades require wind speeds between 6 mph and 9 mph to generate electricity, they also have a maximum speed. Gusts stronger than 55 mph can sometimes cause the turbines to shut down. Exceeding a maximum speed may shut turbines off to prevent straining the rotor.

Lightning can also damage the blades and generators, but manufacturers and engineers continue to research how to disperse the large jolts of electricity safely.

Wind turbines in predictably cold climates such as Sweden or Canada are typically adapted to work in temperatures as low as -22°F, but operators in more temperate climates don’t always invest in those measures.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

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