
3 Feb 2025
A huge wind turbine caught fire yesterday morning at Coldham Wind Farm in Cambridgeshire. An investigation by Scottish Power is currently underway and the wind farm’s eight turbines have all been switched off.
The first and rescue team reported that the fire burnt itself out by 1pm. It has been announced by local fire and rescue service that: "The cause of the fire was accidental."
This however has raised concerns about the safety of wind turbines.
It was reported in The Telegraph that a study by Imperial College London from 2014 described wind turbine fires as a “big problem” that was not being “fully reported”.
Turbines are exposed to the same flow of oxygen that fuels fire. They also contain highly flammable materials, such as hydraulic oil and plastics, and are close to electrical wires. These can ignite a fire if they overheat or are faulty.
The height of turbines is a factor too. Due to their height, often fires are left to burn out, however what happens in stormy conditions?
Reports of turbine fires is on the rise. In 2022 a wind turbine caught fire near St Cyrus, Aberdeenshire. In July 2021, a wind turbine between West Kilbride and Dalry, North Ayrshire, caught fire, and in the same month a fire also destroyed a turbine near Ardrossan.
Due to the rise of accidents on wind farms, in 2023 Scotland Against Spin called for a mandatory two-mile buffer zone between wind turbines and residential homes. The Scottish Government said there was currently no "recommended minimum distance between onshore wind turbines and residential properties" and that it was a matter reserved for the UK Government.
Policy 11 of NPF4 (National Planning Framework) makes clear that potential impacts on communities, nature and other receptors will be important considerations in the decision-making process.
Is safety being properly considered? Should there be a buffer zone?