The cold weather problems hitting some sections of the Texas wind fleet are a stark illustration of the hard thinking ahead for turbine operators there and around the world as extreme climate events become more common, said industry experts.
‘Frozen wind turbines’ were flagged by Texas’s grid operator as one of the factors at play as the state was plunged into blackout chaos after Arctic weather conditions swept in over the weekend.
Although the precise extent of wind’s role in the emergency is the subject of a bitter row, it is clear that a significant number of turbines have seen disrupted operations in conditions more commonly seen in northern Europe, said Lars Falbe-Hansen, a senior principal turbine specialist with DNV GL.
