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The Case against windfarms

<h2 align="center">German Windfarm Accidents</h2>

This document called "Accidents" was written by Dieter Krämer of
Bundesverband Landschaftsscutz (BLS) [Association for the Conservation of Nature],
translated to Danish and from Danish to English! Treat it confidentially as a source of
background information. Check any information with Dieter or the original newspaper before
quoting!

(The latest changes were made on 4th December 2000 by Dieter Krämer)

Accidents and ice-ejection situations relating to wind turbines

For safety reasons wind turbines must stand at least 600 metres from streets and roads
(farm tracks, footpaths, and bridle-paths. Lumps of ice have been thrown over 300
metres. The inactivity of public authorities is a gross negligence of duty.

.

Ice-ejection in relation to wind turbines.

In the judgement from the Crown Court in Oldenburg, relating to the Gertrud family and
Hermann Zeiger, Strenge Weg 8, 26427 Bensersiel, Tel/Fax 049711351, ice projection plays a
role.

.

For over half a year a wind turbine between Werdum and Buttforde (Wittmund county,
Eastern Friesland) has stood still because, according to Werdums mayor Friedhelm
Hass, "ice clumps weighing kilograms have demonstrably been thrown onto the
street" (East Friesland newspaper of 8/11/1996).

.

Near Borgholzhausen in Sauerland hunters reported 30 cm lumps of ice on a
footpath alongside a wind turbine. The lumps of ice had destroyed the trees.

On 29/10/1996 an Eastern Friesland paper reported on a place called Krummendeich:
"in winter the rotors sling limps of ice through the airWe were cheated.
(cited from a parish board members comments relating to planning permission).

.

Between the 8th and 10th January 1997 lumps of ice were
flung from a wind turbine in Selbitz-Sellanger (Hof county, Bayern). Using
photographs these ejections were documented in 5 places at distances between 35 and 85
metres. A piece of ice, which lay at a distance of 40 metres, weighed 490 grams, while
at 60 metres another piece weighed 445 grams.

Further information: Beyerlein Ewald and Petra, Rothenbürger Weg 20, 95152
Selbitz-Sellanger, Tel/Fax 09280 5695 or Pfadenhauer Hans, Possek 55, 96332 Pressig,
Tel/Fax 09265 8490.

.

Correspondence (22/1/1997) from mayor Edgar Schmidt, Stein-Neukirch Parish, Neukircher
Str. 3, 56479 Stein-Neukirch, 02667 242, to the county director in Westerwald
County, Montabaur:

Danger from the Lichtenthäler wind farm at Salzburger Kopf

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen

At an inspection of the high reservoir in Rennerod county parish, conducted with my
colleague Mayor Spornhauer, at 11.15 am yesterday 21/1/1997, ice flew from the
Lichtenthäler wind farm onto the road that leads to the parishs winter sports
facility. This event involved ice lumps bigger than a piece of A4 paper, and these flew
past my colleague Spornhauer, who was walking on the road at a distance of less than 2
metres. In my opinion this is a very dangerous situation, not least because many people
use this road in winter. I request you to put a stop to this dangerous situation with the
help of appropriate action.

No answer.

.

From "Südwest Presse", 29/11/1997. Local edition in Reutlingen,
author: Jürgen Herdin, 07121 9302 60, Fax: 9302 46. Private Tel/Fax 260899:

Direct hit. With reference to the discussion on the advantages and dangers of wind
energy (including that in Eningen this week) - except for bird and landscape protection
one important point has not yet been raised in public: the dangers from ice. On a hunt for
one of the few wind turbines in this area, the author of these lines drove blindly in
thick fog on Willmandinger Alb. On finally reaching Himmelberg he faced a sign ("Take
care! Danger from thrown ice! Please maintain an appropriate distance"!);
he carelessly ignored this warning and parked his old Ford directly below the rotor blade
of a wind turbine. There was a tremendous bang a direct hit! From more than 50
metres up a piece of ice as big as a tennis ball had fallen onto the roof of the car. The
author was more than a little shocked, and fully understood and approved of the advice of
a technician who, with a helmet on his head, was working on the adjacent wind turbine:
Avoid coming close to such equipment when there is a danger of icing.

..

One morning in the beginning of January 1999, in "Gebrannten Rücken"
near Bromskirchen in Frankenberg County (Hessen, near the border to Nordrhein-Westfalen),
a hunting tenant, Andrä Schräder from his car saw about 20 lumps of ice flying
by. One of them made a hole in the boot of his Kabrio Suzuki and came to rest
behind him on the passenger seat. The responsible wind turbine stood 100 metres away and
could not be seen because of fog. The road could only be used by the site owner and
hunters. Further information: Andrä Schräder, Anne-Frank-Str. 5, 59320 Enniger, 02528
3840, Firm 8875, Fax 8304.

..

During the week prior to 27th April 1999, the head of the forestry
office in Grebenhain, Jürgen Fornof, noticed on the county road Engelrod-Helpershain,
near the drive to Engelröder Fahrweg "large symmetrical plates in the newly fallen
snow., to which or from which no tracks were leading.They were plates of
ice, which had broken away from wind turbines (invisible because of fog) and been thrown a
long way." Fornof was concerned and asked himself whether the danger had not been
under-estimated at the site. He knew, for example, the type of damage that branches could
cause in association with tree-felling. "Is it therefore enough to have a small
warning sign on the tower of the turbine?" Fornof correctly asked himself. Is it the
old song: "Something must happen before something is done"?

The lumps of ice lay at a distance of from half a metre to 70 to 80 metres from the
wind turbine.

(From the advertising paper Lauterbacher Anzeiger 27th
April 1999).

(Further information: Michael Schier, Lauterstr 25, 36341 Lauterbach, 06641 3565, or
Forstamt Grebenhain, Tel. 06644 215.

Cases of Accidents.

The electrical cables lie 90 cm below ground surface, and the channel is 100 cm deep.
Sometimes the depth of ploughing is 1 metre. For information about this danger contact:
Nikolaus Lentz, Landwirt, Dorfstraße, 54608 Oberlascheid, 06555 630.

..

The European record for distance-throwing for parts of wind turbines is 460 metres.

According to regulations, in Schleswig Holstein wind turbines may stand 100 metres from
main roads with heavy traffic and 50 metres from other main roads, local roads and county
roads. Instead of 50 metres the regulations for Rheinland-Phalen recommend "at
least the balance height of the turbine". The latter includes not only the height
of the hub but also the height of the wing tip. Not even with these distances (which are
not adhered to) is there any safety for traffic, except for the optical distance to the
rotating turbine.

..

Comment to a readers letter in the newspaper "Lübecker Nachrichten"
(16/4/1997) concerning "Dangerous recklessness" by the physicist and earlier
air-force officer Hans Waldt from 23858 Reinfeld. His demand re the cordoning off of a
circular safety zone with a radius at least "three times the greatest structure
height" to protect animals and humans refers to the height of the tip of the
wings. We (i.e. BLS) demand at least 500 metres distance to streets and roads,
because parts of the rotor and lumps of ice have been thrown that far. At any rate
Hans demand is three times those recommended by Rheinland-Pfalz.

Because of the long length of their wings wind turbines can be "high
rotating", their energy production being greater than that of aeroplanes
(helicopters), in spite of the lower rate of rotation. The rotors can only operate at
between 3 and 6 metres per second, and outside this range must be switched off. Wind
turbines should not only be accessible to playing children.

..

"Grandma, something is breaking near the turbine" reported the
newspaper "Märkische Oder" on 18/7/1995 concerning the ejection of an 11
metre long piece of rotor blade from a turbine in Rüdersdorf in Brandenburg, alongside a
childrens nursery. A technician admits that the manufacturer had already had "a
couple of problems with the rotor blades".

..

"Parts of the rotor blade flew into the garden" wrote the East
Friesland daily newspaper on 22/2/1996 about a turbine blade that had broken off for the
third time.

..

The rotor blades of a wind turbine broke and fell onto the road from Satrup-Esmark to
Havetoft (Schleswig-Flensburg County) as a result of a component failure during a storm
(wind strength was only 9). Stumps and pieces flew onto the county road alongside the wind
turbine and damaged an adjacent turbine (Schleswiger Nachrichten, 30/10/1996).

..

1997

On the island of Nordstrand (in the county of Nordfriesland), on the 18-2-1997 at about
19-30 hrs a north westerly wind tore the wings off a wind turbine that stood just less
than 30 m from the road. It flew over the road in a 300 (three hundred) metres wide arc.

Reporter: Jens Voß, 04841 4982, Handy 01724526516.

The neighbour of the turbine is Georg Kulick, Elisabeth-Sophienkoog 9, 25845
Nordstrand, 04842 8529, Fax 1610.

The owner of the wind turbine is a known spokesman for wind energy policies, Federal
parliament member, engineer, Peter Harry Carstensen from Nordstrand. He is president of
Deutschen Gesellschaft für Agrar- und Umweltpolitik (the German agriculture and
environment policy association) and chairman of the nutrition, agriculture and forestry
committee. The newspaper Nordfriesland Tageblatt wrote on the 20-2-1997: The reason
for the turbine accident is unknown: Crash-Alarm in the distant Bonn

Nordstrand. Today, if stormy winds allow it, the damaged wind turbine will be pulled
down at Nordstrand. This was announced by Winfried Gerold yesterday at an enquiry.
Winfried Gerold is director of a private wind-farm owners association. Last night strong
winds tore off two of the three rotor blades on the turbine (HSW-250). Gerold stressed:
"The generator did not explode". At any rate the blades of the rotor flew around
in the area and the tower received two dents.

It was Carstensen himself, who on that stormy evening, discovered the accident on
his computer in far away Bonn: Failure report on mill 2. By phone he sent a neighbour away
 the latter then found a broken blade in the ditch and called out the fire service
and police. Carstensen: "We can fortunately say that nobody was passing at the time
of the accident". Husum communal works, that put up these rotors at their wind farm
in Südermarsch, has earlier had problems with HSW systems. During the previous year
several gear boxes had to be changed. Meanwhile Dieter Schönfelder from Emmelsbüll in
his role as spokesman for national nature conservation regulations against wind turbines
in Außenbereich: "This spectacular accident showed that they (i.e. the regulations)
are simply too loose".

..

21-2-1997: Hurricane broke the rotor blade on a wind turbine near Waldaubach

Herborn/Dillenburg.The owners of the wind turbine at Westerwald are pleased about
a strong breeze. The hurrican Daniela had however blown rather violently on Waldaubacher
Höhe, and blown a rotor blade away"

Günter Menk, Willinger Weg 8, 56479 Liebenscheid-Löhnfeld, Tel./Fax 02667 364 says to
this: "Parts of the Enercon wind turbine were slung up to 500 m around.
He found parts that lay over 400 m distant. Parts flew into the summer house area, the
nearest house of which stands 300 m from the turbine. The same day the loose parts were
quickly screwed off and the other parts rapidly collected together."

.

The newspaper Nordwest-Zeitung of 5th April 1997: "Part
of the upper section of a wind turbine broken off by strong winds at the Windtest
wind-farm in Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kood (Dithmarschen County) killed a 42-year-old fitter from
Hattstedt (Nordfriesland County). "The man was hit by parts of the top of the
turbine. The parts that originated at Husum Shipyards wind turbine prototype,
bored themselves "metres deep in the ground, whilst the rotor blades were partly
pulled apart and parts of these lay spread around the site of the accident for a distance
of 500 metres".

Much greater safety around wind turbines is demanded. Recently the number of
technical wind turbine accidents has grown.

"The Bundesverland Landschaftsschutz (BLS) [Association for the
Conservation of Nature] rejects the basic production of electricity via wind turbines
because of their highly industrial, alien and damaging influence on nature and the useless
economic and energy contribution that this form of so-called sustainable energy
represents" said BLSs chairman, Dr Dieter Schönfelder. The tragic accident of
4th April 1997, in which a 600 KW prototype turbine system (from Husum Shipyard
in Kaiser-Wilhelm- Koog, Schlesvig-Holstein) caused the death of a fitter, makes it
obvious that these gigantic electrical machines are still far from being technically
sound. It is therefore crucial to re-examine and tighten up safety regulations relating to
the building and operation of wind turbines.

BLSs spokesman Professor Dr Lothar Hoischen, Marburg, made the comment that, like
many who write to newspapers, BLS has often pointed out that wind blades constitute a
considerable danger to the public and the local environment. This risk is greatly
increased by the many inadequate regulations relating to distances to buildings, roads and
streets (the minimum should be at least 500 metres) because blade parts in this instance
were thrown a distance of up to 500 m. In frosty weather it could also be lumps of ice
that are being ejected.

The authorities (including for example TÜV (technical administration) and highways
authorities) should therefore immediately be called upon to introduce measures that
protect residents, workers and road users (including tourists) from the dangers to which
they are exposed by local turbines. Furthermore, damage to the health of the exposed
public has already been investigated and could possibly already have led to successful
court cases against turbine owners.

On 12-4-1997 at 14-30 hrs the following was observed by our colleague Werner
Hansen, Erlenweg 6, 25862 Goldelund, 04673 313, Fax 1052:

Between Großenweiche and Wanderup (south west of Flensburg, west of the A7,
about 2 km from the exit from the B 200 in the direction of Bredstedt, on the left hand
side) and wing had been torn off one of 6 wind turbines produced by Tacke. The wing
lay 50 metres away on a field. A third of a wing was still hanging on the turbine.
The road, that was only 20 metres away, or a random passing resident, would have been hit
if the wind direction had been different.

The newspaper Schleswiger Nachrichten (27-12-1997): From the police
report: Blast of wind broke off wing. From a policing point of view the holiday
went relatively quietly. There were a few failure alarms, mainly caused by the strong
winds that swept in from the northern part of the country. Because of a blast of wind a
wing broke away from a wind turbine in Dollrottfeld and fell to ground. No-one was
hurt.

Note: Our colleague Botho von Zitzewitz, Baumhof, Tel.Fax 04641 2264, 24392, Nottfeld,
sent pictures of the Tacke 600 KW turbine. Dollrottfeld lies between Schleswig and
Kappeln, north of Schlei. The road lay only 20 metres from the wind turbine.

1998

The newspaper Husumer Nachrichten of 5th March 1998:
".The biggest accident yet with a wind turbine happened yesterday in Simonsberg
near Husum: Because of stormy weather the rotor box was torn from the tower and fell
30 to 40 metres down Producer: Enercon

On 9th June 1998 stormy weather destroyed over a third of over 300
wind turbines in Gujarat, between Ahmadabad and Bombay in India, at the Lamba,
Navarda, and Bhogat wind farms along the coast of Saurashtra. Different manufacturers:
e.g. Bonus, Vestas, Micon.

The newspaper Lübecker / Mecklenburger Nachrichten of 20-9-1998:

A fire in a wind turbine in Sarow in Demmin County caused damage
to the tune of about DM 250,000. Because of a technical fault the rotor motor became hot,
said a policeman yesterday. This fire broke out in the gondola on the back of the wing and
destroyed it.

1999

<ol>

<li>Emsland (Niedersachsen)</li>
On 16th February 1999, a wing was torn off a wind turbine type Micon
(1.5 MW) during stormy weather near the county road between Neusustrum and
Sustrumermoor, possibly due to a lightning strike. The wings were made of wood and
epoxi-resin. Part of it, about 7 to 8 metre long, flew over two hundred metres.
The wind direction prevented part of it falling on a county road. More than 10 parts were
about 1 metre long and several splinters were under 0,50 metres. The other wind turbines
are Tacke turbines. 
Beforehand on the 5th February 1999 a corresponding accident happened
to a similar turbine in a wind farm at Renkenberge, about 8 km away.
In the meantime all 32 wind turbines in the wind farm at Sustrum and Renkenberge
were closed down by the manufacturer Micon, for safety reasons.
The Interest group Rüttenbrocker Moor demanded of the County Director of
Emsland, Hermann Bröring that a safety zone be hedged in around the wind farm.
This was admitted in a report in a newspaper Meppener Tagespost on 4th
March 1999, since "it cannot be denied that ice lumps and loosened parts of the
turbines constitute a danger for traffic". The newspaper promised a review of
"distances to public roads".

<li>Vogelsbergkreis (Hessen)</li>
Following incidents where rotors and rotor blades fell 63 metres from Enercon
E-40 wind turbines on 16th January 1999 in Rebgeshain and on 1st
March 1999 in Helpershain in Vogelsberg county in Hessen, Vogelsberg county stopped
all similar turbines. After incorporating sensors in the turbines they were then started
up again.
On 15th March 1999, the County Council of Vogelsberg,
Alsfeld/Hessen, asked the county committee to investigate whether there should be set up safety
distances to public roads and ways for wind turbines. The request was put
forward by the chairman of CDUs county committee, Dr Hans Heuser, Mücke. In the
neighbouring county Main-Kinzig wind turbines were cordoned off and stopped. After
incorporating sensors in the turbines they were again started up.

<li>County of Uckermark (Brandenberg)</li>
During a storm on 5th February 1999 parts of the wings of a wind
turbine (Manufacturer AN Bonus, 1MW) that was set up during the summer of 1998 in
Wilsickow, Landsamt Uckermark, Brandenberg, fell off. At least 20 parts of under 1 metre
long flew around in a circle i.e. not in only one direction and landed three
hundred metres away. Mrs Drews saw these parts. On the same day other accidents
occurred in Renkenberge in Emsland (Niedersachen), near Hachenburg (Rheinland-Pfalz) and
near Wijnaldum (Holland).

<li>Westerwald county (Rheinland-Pfalz)</li>
On 5th February 1999, near Hachenburg and during windy weather,
part of a blade from a communally owned wind turbine (Fuhrländer, 250 KW) flew
"almost 40 metres and fell straight down alongside a heavily used footpath"
according to the newspaper Rhein-Zeitung in its local edition Westerwälder
Zeitung of 6th February 1999 under the heading "How dangerous are wind
turbines?".

<li>Wijnaldum (Holland)</li>
On 5th February 1999, lightning destroyed a blade of a wind
turbine of the type Vestas V 39/500 near Wijnaldum in Holland. Source: WSH-WINDNIEUWS.
<a HREF="http://home.wxs.nl/-windsh/nieuws.html">http://home.wxs.nl/-windsh/nieuws.html</a>.

<li>Wittmund county (Niedersachsen)</li>
During the stormy weather of 5th February 1999 a wing was broken
off a wind turbine produced by Tacke, type 600 KW, near Burmönken near Wittmund,
and fell to earth.

<li>Seglaberga in Halland, Sweden</li>
Part of a blade of a Vestas wind turbine fell off and flew almost 150
metres in Seglaberga in Halland, Sweden, in the beginning of February this year. In
the newspaper Hallandsposten of 12-3-1999 it is written that Vestas kept quiet
about the accident and did not report it at a safety meeting held one month later.

<li>County of Sangerhausen (Sachsen-Anhalt)</li>
On 1st March 1999, two rotor blades that were more than 20 metres
long were torn off a GET 41 wind turbine and slung more than 150 metres at
Galgenberg between Allstedt and Nienstedt. Source: the newspaper Mitteldeutsche Zeitung
(2-3-1999) and the newspaper Volksstimme (3-3-1999). Photos by Peter Ebert.

<li>County of Sangerhausen (Sachsen-Anhalt)</li>
</ol>

<blockquote>
On 12th April 1999 a wing fell to earth near Blankenheim (newspaper
Mitteldeutsche Zeitung (13-4-1999). Manufacturer: Tacke TW 600.

Further information: the following local wind turbine critics are available:
Emsland: Heinz Kamphuis, Rüthenmoor West 5, 49733 Haren-Rütenbrock, Tel/Fax 05934
681 or Horst Fink, Johann Sjauken Str.,16, 49762 Sustrumermoor, 05939 910583.
County of Vogelsberg: Eberhard Ehmke, Hauswiese 16,
36381 Schlüchtern, Tel/Fax 06661 6231.
Uckermark: Iris
Drews and Werner Karsch, Kastanienallee 62, 10119 Berlin, 030 4494363, dir: 030 28286 72,
Fax dir 28286 88 or Milower Weg 14, 17337 Lübbenow, Tel/Fax 039745 20620

According to its spokesman Gerrit Fuhrman, the County of Aurich sees no reason for
closing down wind turbines of the type "E-40". This would need "other wind
conditions than those in Binnenland". "Because of the flat landscape whirling
winds hardly ever occur"

</blockquote>

The Housing Ministry in Nordrhein-Westfalen

Elisabethstr. 5-11, 40217 Düsseldorf, 0211 3843 0, Durchwahl 3843 222, Fax 3843 601

To the higher building inspection authorities in Nordrhein-WestWestfalen

- referring to the attached distribution 12 March 1999

Journal No: II B 474.203

Wind energy equipment E 40 from the firm Enercon.

Case of damage to an Enercon E 40 wind turbine. Aurich (breakage of the main king pin
that joins the rotor to the tower) causes me to issue the following order: The wind
turbines must immediately be fenced off in a circumference of 30 metres; warning signs
must be put up with clearly legible and durable lettering (at least DIN A 3); the text
must read as follows:

Wind energy equipment!

Cordoned off area No admittance!

The lower building inspection authorities must investigate local conditions to
ascertain whether the cordoning off and its extent is required in all cases. In
particularly dangerous situations (e.g. close to heavy traffic) the lower building
inspection authorities must themselves decide whether, on the grounds of safety, it is
necessary to stop production by the turbine.

Until the cause of the damage is established, these arrangements must to be maintained.
With regard to further arrangements a new order will be issued.

I ask the lower building inspection authorities to keep me informed. With regard to
what has happened I ask for a report. To make it easier for you I enclose a list of the
E-40 turbine positions.

On behalf of (Dahlke).

Bundesverband Landschaftsschutz (BLS) [ Association for the Conservation of Nature].
Press Release of 25th March 1999.

Wind turbines continue to be a safety risk

Bundesverband Landschaftsschutz (BLS) demands sufficient safety distance between wind
turbines and streets and roads.

In the interests of public safety, a distance of over 300 metres should be fenced off
and made inaccessible to the public. Parts of turbines and lumps of ice can be thrown up
to 400 metres distance.

The demands in the order of 12th March 1999 issued by the Building Ministry
of Nordrhein-Westfalen referring to a "circumference of 30 metres" and a notice
"Wind energy equipment! Cordoned off area No admittance!" must be
increased ten-fold to re-establish public safety. If this cannot be done near to streets
and roads then stopping the turbines is the only option.

The incorporation of sensors in Enercon wind turbines does not remove the danger caused
by flying wings, as occurred with six makes of turbine during the current year.

On 5th February 1999: parts of a wing (AN Bonus, 1MW) were thrown over 300
metres in Wilsickow, in Uckermark County, Brandenburg; parts of a wing (Fuhrländer, 250
KW) flew 40 metres and fell close to a heavily used footpath near Hachenburg in
Westerwald, Rheinland-Pfalz; a broken wing (Tacke, 600 Kw nominal effect) fell to earth
near Burmönken in Kreis Wittmund; lightning destroyed a wing (Vestas, V 39/500) near
Wijnaldum in Holland; and in Seglaberga in Halland (Sweden) parts of a wing (Vestas) were
thrown over 150 metres.

At Galgenberg, between Allstedt and Nienstedt in Kreis Sangerhausen (Sachsen-Anhalt)
two (over 20 metres long) rotor blades were torn off and flew over 150 metres on the 1st
March 1999.

On 5th February 1999 parts of a wing (Micon, Type 1.5 MW, Denmark) flew off
at the wind farm in Renkenberge in Emsland, Niedersachsen. Following a re-occurrence of
this type of accident on the 16th February 1999 with a similar type of turbine
on the neighbouring wind farm of Sustrum (where a c. 7 metre length was slung over 200
metres), all 32 turbines of the Micon make were shut down at the wind farms in Sustrum and
Renkenberge in the interests of safety.

When the generators and rotor blades of Enercon type E 40 wind turbines fell off in
Rebgeshain on the 16th January 1999 and in Helpershain in Vogelsbergkreis,
Hessen, Vogelsbergkreis shut down all 17 turbines, but allowed production to be re-started
after sensors were installed. The neighbouring area of Main-Kinzig-Kreis did the same.

On the 9th June 1998 a storm destroyed over one third of over 300 wind
turbines in Gujarat, between Ahmadabad and Bombay, along the Saurashtra-coast.

"Regarding safety there are neither British nor European norms for testing the
safety of wind farms or "turbines. This was written by Prof. M.A. Laughton, Peng.,
University of London in a memorandum of June 1998 for the Trade and Industry Committee,
Energy Policy.

Further information can be obtained from: Secretary Dieter Krämer,
Freidrich-Ebert-Str. 13, 57577 Hamm, 02682 4354, Fax 969618. Spokesman for Regional Group
Mitte: Professor Dr. Lothar Hoischen, Renthof 25, 35037 Marburg, Tel/Fax 06421 66488

The newspaper Ostfreisische Nachrichten in Aurich on 26-03-1999:

Metal failure made the king pin break (26 March 1999)

Wit Aurich. The collapse of two Enercon wind turbines was due to metal failure. This
result of an intensive enquiry was revealed by Enercon owner Aloys Wobben to ON at an
interview. Firstly, the steel that caused the breakage was in both cases deficient in
magnesium; furthermore an accumulation of sand was observed; in the casting of the parts
some of the moulding sand probably fell down and had got mixed in the liquid steel.
Concerning the king pin, this is the name of the turbine component that sits on top,
forming the top of the tower on which turns the machine head, with generator and wings.

Wobben also said that for neither his customers nor his company were these metal
failures serious problems. Everywhere that people work mistakes are made, also in the case
of wind turbines. When one thinks, however, that Enercon has produced around 1600 turbines
of the type E 40 and sets this against these cases the proportion of failures is very
small; the operational safety is very high, the construction is well tested, and the
quality control well thought through.

Wobben does not understand the media who immediately demanded an explanation instead of
awaiting an investigation. He was not prepared to express such short-term thoughts in a
satisfactory way. The danger of subsequently appearing like an un-responsible speculator
was all too great. Unfortunately the media had passed their time with speculations. It was
reprehensible and had made his staff insecure. The belief in his principle of first
analysing and then speaking had, however, failed.

Report to Harlingerland: 8-04-99

Enercon: The failure has been found. The reason for the fall of the generator: Damaged
parts. hph- Aurich/Holtreim.

The reason for the fall of two generators and rotor blades in Vogelsbergkreis in Hassen
has been discovered. A spokes-woman for the Enercon wind turbine manufacturer in Aurich,
in answer to a question, confirmed yesterday that defective king pins in the two E - 40
turbines had caused the accident.

The company also explained that the pins from the two machines (that join the tower to
the generator) originated in a defective delivery. In an investigation of all the turbines
in the Ullrichstein wind farm, Enercon had found a total of 5 king pins from the delivery
that were of inferior quality. Control of the E - 40 and E - 60 turbines in Dornum and
Holtriem revealed no defects, said the spokes-woman.

Weekly newspaper "Jeversches Wochenblatt"; 08-04-99

The company announced that in an investigation of all the wind turbines on the Hessen
wind farm at Ullrichstein it had found a total of five king pins that originate from a
delivery of poorer quality. The rotor fall has therefore been cleared up.

Reason for accident to the turbine discovered hph-

Aurich/Wangerland. The reason for the fall of two generators and the rotor blades in
Vogelsbergkreis, Hessen, has been found. A spokes-woman for the Aurich-based wind turbine
manufacturer Enercon yesterday confirmed that a defective king-pin in both E 40
turbines had led to the accidents. The company announced that an examination of all
turbines in the Ullrichstein wind farm had revealed five king pins from a poor quality
delivery. The company revealed that in Wangerland there are no other turbines of this
series. The turbines in the Dornum and Holtreim wind farms should be safe, declared the
spokes-woman. She also explained that after the accidents that had caused damage for
several hundred thousand DM, the E-66 turbines in Holtreim and especially the E 40
turbines in Dornum had been investigated "We could detect nothing" she said. It
is true that the E 66 turbines in Holtreim contain similar parts as the E 
40, but they were not affected by the same defective delivery.

At the same time, the Enercon spokes-woman pointed out that so far more than 1600
turbines of the type E 40 had been put up. Only in the case of four turbines had
accidents occurred.

Actions in Hessen by opponents of wind turbines have led to a public discussion on
turbine safety, which, according to the spokes-woman, had also been noted by the company
in Aurich. For they had to convince some customers with regard to service. In this context
Enercon will charge the information paper "Focus" because of false information
concerning the incident.

Wind turbine accidents

- incomplete summary

From the 16th January to 12th April 1999, 8 manufacturers
were involved in 12 accidents (at 15 installations).

In this context the least throwing distance averaged 168 metres
(150+300+40+200+150 = 840/5).

Gondola fall: Included in these were the two accidents at the Enercon installations in
Vogelbergkreis. In the beginning of March 1998 the motor housing of an Enercon turbine at
Simonsberg near Husum fell down. On the 4th April 1997 a fitter died due to
turbine housing falling from a HSW turbine in Kaiser-Wilhelm-Koog.

Needs to be updated.

<table BORDER="1" CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="7" WIDTH="689">
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">Date</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Place</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Area</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Manufacturer</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Action</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Ice</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Bensersiel</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">East Friesland/ Niedersachsen</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">AN Bonus</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Case before Administration Court</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Ice</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Borgholzhausen</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Sauerland</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">30cm ice lumps on footpath.
Damage to trees.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Ice</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">29.10.96 (Paper)</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Krummendeich</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Niedersachsen</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Ice lumps in the air.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Ice</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">08.11.96 (Paper)</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Werdum/Buttforde</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Kreis Wittmund/Niedersachsen</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Kg heavy ice lumps on street.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Ice</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">08-10.01.97</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Selbitz-Sellanger</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Kreis Hof/Bayern</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Up to 85m, Up to 490 gm.Pictures.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Ice</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">21.01.97</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Stein-Neukirch</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Westerwald/Kreis/Theinland-Pfalz</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Bigger than DIN A4 page Flew by
2m away</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Ice</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">29.11.97 (Paper)</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Willmandinger Alb/Himmelbjerg</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Kreis
Reutlingen/Baden-Württemberg</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Tennis ball sized ice hit car
roof</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accidents</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">1997</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">18.02.97</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Island of Nordstrand</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Kreis North
Friesland/Schlesvig-Holstein</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">HSW</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Wing parts flew > 300m across
a road</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">21.02.97 (Paper)</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Waldaubach</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Westerwald/Hessen</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Enercon</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Wing parts flew > 400m</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">04.04.97</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Kaiser-Wilhelm-Koog</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Schlesvig-Holstein</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">HSW 600KW prototype</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Upper part 1m deep in earth. Wing
parts flew up to 500m. Fitter in gondola killed.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">12.04.97</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Großenwiehe /Wanderup</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Schleswig-Holstein</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Tacke</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Wing part flew >50m. Road 20m
away.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">27.12.97 (paper)</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Dollrottfeld</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Schleswig-Holstein</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Tacke, 600 KW</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Wing flew off. Road 20m away.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accidents</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">1998</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">05.03.98 (Paper)</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Simonsberg bei Husum</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Kreis North
Friesland/Schleswig-Holstein</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Enercon</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Turbine housing fell down.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">09.06.98</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Gujarat</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Neat Bombay, India</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Various: e.g. Bonus , Vestas,
Micon</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">129 of 315 turbines destroyed.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">20.09.98</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Sarow</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Kreis
Demmin/Mecklenburg/Vorpommern</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Gondola on fire behind propeller.
Destroyed.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accidents</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">1999</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident </td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">16.01.99</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Rebgeshain</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Vogelsbergkreis/Hessen</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Enercon E-40</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Gondola and rotor blade fell off.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident </td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">Start Feb. 99</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Seglabera in Halland</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Sweden</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Vestas</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Wing part flew almost 150m</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">05.02.99 </td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Wilsickow</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Kreis Uchermark/Brandenburg</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">AN Bonus, 1 MW</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Wing part flew > 300m</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">05.02.99</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Hachenburg</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Westerwald-Kreis/Rheinland-Pfalz</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Fuhrländer, 250 KW</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Wing parts flew almost 40m and
fell near footpath.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident </td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">05.02.99</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Wijnaldum</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Niederlande</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Vestas, V 39/500</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Lightning destroyed turbine</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">05.02.99</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Renkenberge</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Kreis Emsland/Niedersachsen</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Micon 64/1500</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Wing parts flew off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">05.02.99</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Burmönken</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Kreis Wittmund/Niedersachsen</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Tacke 600 KW</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Wing parts flew off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">05.02.99</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Lelystad</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Holland</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">4 x Windmaster 43/750</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Wing parts of 4 turbines badly
damaged by lightning.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">16.02.99</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Sustrum</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Kreis Emsland/Niedersachsen</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Micon 64/1500</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">7m-long wing part flew >200m</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">01.03.99</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Helpeshain</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Vogelsbergkreis/Hessen</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Enercon E-40</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Gondola & rotor blade fell</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">01.03.99</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Allstedt/Nienstedt (Galgenberg)</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Kreis Sangerhausen/Sachsen-Anhalt</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">GET 41</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Two >20m wing parts flew
>150m</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP">Accident</td>
<td WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="TOP">12.04.99</td>
<td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">Blankenheim</td>
<td WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">Kreis Sangerhausen/Sachsen-Anhalt</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Tacke TW 600</td>
<td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">Wing fell to ground.</td>
</tr>
</table>

Addition:

Vier Windmasters Lelystad door bliksem geveld. 30-03-99

English translation:

On 5th February the blades of a wind turbine of the type Windmaster 43/750,
located on a wind farm in Lelystad, was badly damaged by lightning. Four blades could be
repaired and two turbines are operating again The two remaining turbines will be fitted
with new blades as soon as possible, because they are not in store. (Source: <a
HREF="http://home.wxs.nl/~windsh/nieuws.html">http://home.wxs.nl/~windsh/nieuws.html</a>)

The newspaper "Jeversches Wochenblatt" of 21.09.99: Wind turbine
dismantled

After the fire the experts are now in action wt-Grafschaft.

At 50 metres a fire broke out yesterday noon in the Danish wind turbine GET near
Zielenser Weg near Grafschaft. At 12.26 the alarm was raised and the fire brigade with 27
men and 8 fire engines arrived at the scene. The installation, which had a maximal
capacity of 600 KW, had been started in May 1995 as the first of two turbines near
Zielenser Weg. In the interests of safety the two installations were immediately put out
of action. The owner of the DM 1 million turbine is said to be an investor from Norderney.

Because of the height and in spite of a 30 metre long turn-table ladder could hardly do
any work to extinguish the fire. Inside the tower cable channels were burnt out, and
falling parts meant that one could not get near to the installation. Yesterday afternoon
specialists from a servicing firm were busy turning and fixing one of the three rotor
blades on the un-burnt installation parallel to the mast to avoid uncontrolled rotations.
According to the police, rotor blades can become heavy projectiles under certain
conditions. As early as today the turbine was being dismantling. The Danish manufacturer
appears to have gone bankrupt a long time ago.

Announcement by dpa lni (= Niedersachsen Land Group of dps) on 21st
September 1999.

Wind turbine generator burnt out The fire brigade came to site(??) =

Grafschaft / Friesland (dpa/lni) About DM 1 million worth of damage has been
caused by a fire in a wind turbine installation in Grafschaft (Kreis Friesland). According
to the police on Tuesday the reason is still unclear. At the fie on Monday the fire
fighters looked on almost helplessly as the 50 metre installation burnt out totally. The 8
fire-engines and more than 30 firemen had only a 30 metre ladder available and this meant
that the jet of water could not reach the flames. Specialists dismantled the roror blades
on Tuesday to prevent them suddenly falling down.

Dpa/lni di hn yy ek

211238 Sep 99

Bundesverband Landschaftsschutz (BLS) [ Association for the Conservation of Nature].
Press Release of 23rd September 1999.

Wind energy installation irresponsible safety risk

Following fire in a 50 metres high wind turbine on Monday 20.9.99 in
Grafschaft/Friesland (Niedersachsen) (damage for DM 1million) which the fire brigade was
helpless to control because of a ladder only 30 metres high, BLS again points out the lack
of safety regulations for wind turbines. In Brandenburg and Nordrhein-Westfalen similar
cases have occurred, such that the fire brigade and passers-by were exposed to danger.

Bundesverband Landschaftsschutz (BLS) demands a sufficient distance between wind
turbiles and streets and roads. With regard to public safety it is very urgent that a
distance of over 300 metres should be fenced off and made inaccessible to the public.
Parts of the installation and lumps of ice can be slung over 400 metres. Ice blocks once
penetrated a car.

7th October 1999 (with photo)

A plastic ring 1.30 metres in diameter landed in Straßengraben close to a wind
turbine with a hub-height of 53 metres in Spieka-Neufeld, Gemeinde Nordholz,
Landkreis Cuxhaven. "The weather strip had been put on badly during a maintenance
service", informs the paper "Nordsee-Zeitung", local Landkreis
edition, on 13th October 1999, referring to an article of 7th
October 1999 (with photo) as well as H.-L. Wagner from the countys building
inspection authorities. The paper article was written by Herr Santler, c/o Nordsee-Zeitung
in Bremerhaven, Tel: 0417 597 296, Fax 597 505.

Further information can be obtained at: Fernando Valero Delgado and Margaretha
Schönhöft, Sier5verner-Str. 159, 27607 Langen, Tel/Fax: 04743/912399, direct 0471 4831
348.

2nd 3rd December 1999 (with photo)

The newpaper Dithmarscher Landeszeitung (DLZ) on 4th December 1999, with
pictures (photo Fischer): "Yesterday evening a stroke of lightning put two wind
turbines, belonging to Klaus Gehrts in Zennhusen, out of action. Whilst only internal
damage occurred to the one installation, the other one suffered a regular "rotor
blade salad". One wing broke off and the two others were broken and hanging alongside
the mast Photo Fischer"

Other information can be obtained from Professor Dr. Hans Müller von der Hagen,
Seehof, 25764 Wesselburener Koog, Tel: 04833 42154 or 1, fax: 42155.

3rd December 1999 ( with photo)

In Bocholt-Hemden on 03.12.1999 the c. 15 kg turbine hat flew off
and over 50 metres across a road that lay 30 metres away.

Further information can be obtained from : Ludger Schepers, Zur alten Schmiede 2, 46399
Bocholt-Hemden, Tel: 02871 487199.

3rd 4th December 1999 (with photo)

During the night between the 3rd and 4th December 1999,
the storm tore a wind on an AN Bonus 1MW/54 wind turbine (60 metres hub-height, 54 metres
rotor diameter) in the town of Sievern, Langen municipality, Kreis Cuxhaven.
"the part flew 200 metres away" according to the paper Nordsee-Zeitung
on 06.12.1999. The publically accessible field track lies 5 to 10 metres from the
installation.

Further information inclusive pictures can be obtained from: Dr. Eckhard Eggers,
Mittelberg 39, 37085 Göttingen, Tel: 0551 791983 fax or phone 7989813.

3rd 4th December 1999 (with photo)

On the stormy evening between the 3rd and 4th December 1999,
lightning destroyed the rotor blade of a wind turbine of the type Enercon E 33 in Westermarsch
II near Norddeich. An article with picture is given in the paper Emder Zeitung,
Aurich, on 8th December 1999. Journalist and photography: Jörg-Volker Kahle,
Tel: 04941 929240, Fax 929261.

Further information: G. and H. Zeiger, Strenge Weg 8, 26427 Benser Siel, Tel/Fax: 04971
1351.

3rd December 1999

Danish hurricane destroyed 11 small wind turbines

The hurricane of 3rd December 1999 destroyed 8 of the 5500 Danish wind
turbines. They were smaller installations of between 55 200 KW, and 10 15
years old.

On 29th January 2000, the Danes lost another three small, older
turbines. The most common reason was that the brake drums of the rotor blades did not
function. In some they had rusted fast and cannot be released. This means that the
turbines cannot be stopped, that the main brakes are over-loaded, and in some cases they
begin to burn. The consequences have been break-down, and broken wings and masts.

The affected installations were of the following make: WindMatic (1), Wincon (3), Bonus
(2), Vestas (2), Nordtank (2), and Kuriant (1). The biggest and newest turbine was a
Wincon 200 KW machine from 1990. Other problems were due to slow rotations.

Graphics with measured wind speeds at different levels in Jutland during the hurricane
can be seen on: Winddata.com (Windstats, Vol 13 No.1)

Further information can be obtained from: Hiltje Zwarberg, Schepperbuurt 14, NL 9948 PP
Termunterzijl, Tel: 0031 596 602184. E-mail: <a HREF="mailto:hzwarber@wxs.nl">hzwarber@wxs.nl</a>.

http://home.wxs.nl/~hzwarber/wind/welkom.html.

9th December 1999 (with photo)

In the Dutch town of Eemshaven, since 09.12.1999, 94 wind turbines put up by
Kenetech (USA) in 1994, have been taken out of commission by the owner. Twice in
recent weeks a rotor blade had fallen down, in spite of the fact that new motor blades
had been installed at a cost of DM 10 millions.

Further information: Hiltje Zwarberg, Schepperbuurt 14, NL 9948 PP 0031 Termunterzijl,
Tel: 0031 596 602184. E-mail: <a HREF="mailto:hzwarber@wxs.nl">hzwarber@wxs.nl</a>.

http://home.wxs.nl/~hzwarber/wind/welkom.html.

See also the newspaper Ostfriesen-Zeitung of 11 December 1999.

12th December 1999 (with photo)

During the night of 12th December 1999, the 60 metre mast of a
turbine (Südwind S 46/600 KW) broke 10 metres above the ground in the Lichtenau-Asseln
wind farm near Paderborn (Nordrhein-Westfalen). Rotor parts with a diameter of
46 metres flew "about 200 metres" according to the newspaper Westfalenblatt,
Paderborn, of 13th December 1999. There was only about 25 metres to the nearby
farm track. Heinrich Tegethoff who lives close by does not doubt the theory of a lightning
strike, because there were signs of fire or smoke as a result of heating.

Since an installer he has experience of dynamically over-loaded installations, such as
steel chimneys, where the effect of lightning damage is always visible on the coating.
Tegethoff believes that the stability was not sufficient. The story from the owners
side that the rotor blades should have exploded because of the high release of energy
proves a lack of technical understanding. It is clear that the rotor blades were bent on
contact with the ground, and that they were thereby stretched to breaking point.

In the newspaper Westfalenblatt of 18.12.1999, under the heading "After
accident wind turbines must be enclosed", Johannes Lackmann, Director of Asselner
WindKraft GmbH und CO KG and President of Forbundeslandernes Erneuerbare Energien (BEE)
says of the demands of Bundesverband Landschaftsschutz (BLS) for a minimum 300
metres safety distance: "In that case the agricultural use of the land on which
turbines stand would hardly be possible" He also refers to the fact that most
accidents occur in association with strong winds: "At such times there are neither
farmers or pedestrians out and about". Wind energy production is, furthermore, a new
technology that is still not perfect. We learn from failures and improve the installations
all the time".

Further information: Heinrich Tegethoff, Am Allemannsberg 7, 33165 Atteln, Tel: 05292
658 or 2377, Fax 2380. 01715433971.

The Newspaper Westfalen-Blatt, Sudbrackstr. 14 18, 33611 Bielefeld, Tel:
0521 585 226, Fax 585 230; Chief Editor: Rolf Dressler, Christian Althoff, photo Matthias
Groppe.

The weekly paper "Landwirtschaftliche Wochenblatt" No. 52/99, p29-30
refers to the same article under the heading: "Rotor hit by lightning?"

See also FOCUS of 18.12.1999, p. 13, with photo "Centrifuging in stormy
weather: Low pressure in the first half of December converted many wind turbines into
dangerous metal centrifuges". Text: Dr Kurt- Martin Mayer, technical and
scientific editor.

It has been experienced that the screw-bolt of the gondola came from Poland without
control certification. The wind turbine lacked quality control.

The wind-lobby journal "Erneuerbare Energien" [Sustainable Energy] of
June 2000 relates "South wind losses: The reasons are clear. The hurricane broke S 46
 so what?". The journal presumer and reassures.

19th December 1999 (with photo)

On the 19.12.1999 the wing from one of three wind turbines produced by the Berlin
company Südwind- Energitechnik, and located in Stöffin near the turn-off
from the A 24 to Neuruppin-south was "pressed against the tower and totally
destroyed In a circle of about 50 meters pieces of the rotors are spread over
the field" According to the owner (Hamburger Atlas Aindanlagen GmbH), the
builder ("Südwind") must bear responsibility for the damage of DM 1.1 million,
since the structure had not yet been inspected by the authorities. The distance to the
road was less than 20 metres.

Source: The newspaper "Berliner Morgenpost" of 22.12.1999. Text: Hr.
Wunsch from Brandenburg editorial office in Oranienburg, Tel: 03301 5977 12 or 16.
Fax 5977 20.

On 4th January 2000 the newspaper "Gransrr-Zeitung" quotes
, for example the reporter from Neuruppin (Tel: 03391 45530) "The dismantling of
destroyed turbine continues". A special firm fom Cuxhaven is transporting the whole
of the wind turbine, except for the fuselage, for examination in Greifswald.

22nd December 1999 (with photo)

On the 22nd December 1999 lightning seriously damaged the rotor blades of a
NEDWIND NW 46/3/500 turbine in the Dutch town of Leeuwarden.

Source: The newspaper "Leeuwarden Courant" of 25th December
1000. Further information: Hiltje Zwarberg, Schepperbuurt 14, NL 9948 PP 0031
Termunterzijl, Tel: 0031 596 602184, E-mail: <a HREF="mailto:hzwarber@wxs.nl">hzwarber@wxs.nl</a>
.

<a HREF="http://home.wxs.nl/~hzwarber/wind/welcom.html">http://home.wxs.nl/~hzwarber/wind/welcom.html</a>.

4th January 2000 (with photo)

"Rotor out of control after fire"

"Police close off street at a great distance.

Dörpen (kd) A wind turbine near Neudörpenor Straße in Dörpen was out of control
after a fire on Tuesday. Yesterday evening, for the first time, technicians from the
manufacturers company were able to stop the rotors. To be on the safe side the
police had cordoned off the street at a safe distance around the turbine. The fire in the
top of the turbine was noticed by road users on Tuesday at 20.30 hrs. According to the
police the flames came out of the rotor top into the air and the wings rotated at an
unusually rapid speed. The authorities introduced an extensive street cordon to prevent
accidents if the 21 metre-long and 3.8 tonne wings broke loose. The cordon was lifted
yesterday shortly before 17.00 hrs.

Since the early hours of the morning the technicians had tried to stop the turbine. A
crane had also been called to dismantle the wings. According to the police, the electrics
could be switched off but the braking mechanism of the turbine did not work. According to
first conjectures the fire was started by a technical failure. The top of the converter
was totally destroyed. The rotor blades continued to turn with a loud grating noise and
whistles. The fire brigade in Dörpen was quickly called out with 25 men, but after
discussion with the owners it had refrained from extinguishing the flames since they would
die out by themselves."

From the newspaper Ems-Zeitung, Papenburg, the 6th January 2000.

Extract with kind permission of the author and photograpper Hr. Dieckmann c/o
Ems-Zeitung, Papenburg, Tel: 04961 808 16

Type: TW 600 a from the company Tacke.

Further information: Sigrid Agyemang, Wollbrouck 25, 26903 Surwold (near Werlte),
Tel/Fax: 04965 518.

10th January 2000 (with photo)

"Almost killed by ice" was the heading of the newspaper "Diepholzer
Kreisblatt" (Niedersachsen), 12.01.2000. On the 10th January 2000,
Veterinarian Dr Victoria Roloff, while taking a walk with her dog, saw large lumps of ice
lying on the road alongside three wind turbines in St. Hülfe/Heede. When she looked up,
because of noise, she saw a piece of ice coming towards her "and just managed to
spring to one side and into a field: A piece of ice as thick and long as an arm fell down
from the turbines rotor about 70 metres up". The ice struck Victoria Roloff on
the shoulder and was then shattered on the road. The installation stands about 20 metres
from the road that is open to public traffic. The piece of ice hit Dr Roloff at a distance
of 50 metres from the turbine.

It was the middle of the day, foggy, and about 0 degrees C with a little wind.

The following day a notice was put up warning of ice.

Information: Dr Victoria Roloff, Kesselhäuser Ort 10, 49356 Diepholz-Heede, Tel: 05441
6086 Fax 5387.

15th January 2000

"Wind turbine careful dangerous!"

A board with this text is demanded councillor by Alfons Struck, CDU, in Altenbeken,
Nordrhein-Westfalen. Furthermore in his letter to the council and mayor he demands
extensive protection zones, the stopping of turbines in storms and bad weather and the
"cordoning off of roads in safety areas with the help of automatic barriers".
This was reported by the newspaper Westfalen-Blatt on 15th January 2000
(Tel: 05251 896 120, Fax 896 122, Hubertus Hartmann) and presumes that for Alfons Struck
" a representative of the wind-lobby has not yet appeared with a suitcase full of
money".

10th February 2000

Reports for Harlingerland, 20th April 2000: -brm-Asel. After one of
three Enercon turbines, owned by the electricity company in Wittmund, suddenly collapsed
on 10th February, only the wings of two turbines are now rotating

Joachim Schmidt, press spokesman for Enercon confirmed yesterday that the reason had
been found. He did not wish to give more information, however, since Enercon was not
itself responsible for material damage. "The delivery firm for the tower is
involved", said Schmidt. It therefore seems clear (what was already suspected) that
the 33 metre tower broke because of concrete damage.