An investigation has been launched after a wind turbine caught fire at EnBW’s Bremervörde wind farm in Lower Saxony, Germany, marking the first such incident at one of the company’s facilities, EnBW said.
The fire occurred on Tuesday evening and involved a Südwind S70 turbine with a hub height of 65 metres and a capacity of 1.5 megawatts (MW). The 9MW wind farm, operated by EnBW, is located near the town of Bremervörde.
At approximately 7:00 p.m., EnBW was informed by the local fire department that residents had reported smoke coming from the site. The fire was confirmed shortly after, prompting a response involving around 100 firefighters.
The nacelle of the turbine was destroyed in the blaze, although the transformer station remained undamaged. Debris from the rotor blades and other parts fell into nearby fields, resulting in contamination of the surrounding area.
No injuries were reported and there was no risk to nearby residents or traffic, the company said. “The safety of local residents and employees is always the highest priority,” an EnBW spokesperson stated. “The entire wind farm has been disconnected from the grid for safety reasons.”
EnBW said it had initiated damage assessment measures and is working with authorities and independent experts to determine the cause of the fire and evaluate the structural stability of the plant.
“EnBW is working closely with the relevant authorities as well as the fire department and police to investigate the exact cause, assess the situation and initiate any further necessary steps,” the company added.
