Wildfire forces UK wind farm offline as emergency response activated
Wind farm owner Fred Olsen Renewables says Siemens turbines have been powered down as precaution as wildfire blazes
A Scottish wind farm has been forced offline by one of several wildfires that is currently sweeping the country amid heatwaves across much of Europe.
Firefighters are currently battling the blaze at the Paul’s Hill Wind Farm in the northeastern Moray region in Scotland, which is operated by Norway’s Fred Olsen Renewables.
Countries including the UK, Italy and Spain are all currently experiencing sweltering heatwaves, with temperatures hitting the mid-thirty degrees in the UK and the mid-forties in Europe.
This has triggered wildfires across the continent, one of which has swept up to Paul’s Hill Wind Farm that has been operational since 2006 and features 28 2.3MW Siemens turbines, made before the German manufacturer merged with Spain’s Gamesa.
A video of the wildfire posted by the Nairn Community Fire Station shows flames lapping up to near the base of what appears to be one of the Siemens turbines at the site.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was reportedly first called out to attend to a fire at the wind farm on Sunday and continued to battle the blaze overnight.
“There is no immediate threat to people, or damage to our infrastructure, but as a precaution we have temporarily halted production at the wind farm.
“Fred Olsen Renewables has activated its emergency response organisation and is working closely with the relevant authorities to manage the situation.”
The Nairn Community Fire Station said in a Facebook post that the damage the wildfire has wreaked to the surrounding area has been “devastating”.
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