Bremen, 27 October 2023 - In the night of 14 October to 15 October 2023, a rotor blade on a wind turbine at the Alfstedt-Ebersdorf wind park in Lower Saxony, Germany, snapped off and partially broke off. In this context, the manufacturer, GE Wind Energy GmbH, planned a controlled drop of the rotor blade components still hanging down. The related work started on 26 October 2023.
In the late evening of 26 October 2023, another rotor blade on the same wind turbine snapped off during the course of work to bring down the still hanging components of the first damaged rotor blade. The wind turbine in question was not in operation at the time of the incident. No personal injuries were caused. So far, no debris from the broken rotor blade has been scattered in the immediate surrounding area. The removal work on the fallen debris from the first incident, which has been ongoing since 19 October 2023, has been interrupted for safety reasons.
Apart from a temporal correlation of the two events mentioned, the cause of the damage is not yet known. As the operator of the wind turbine, Energiekontor has requested a statement on the incident and the next steps from the manufacturer by noon today. This has not been made available so far.
As already included in our first statement of 16 October 2023, farmers and land owners affected from the first incident can report their damage to Energiekontor. Energiekontor will record and examine the respective matter and endeavour to provide rapid support.
Postscript: With regard to the rotor blade breakage at the Alfstedt-Ebersdorf wind park in September 2022, Energiekontor would like to clarify that Energiekontor commissioned an agricultural assessor at its own expense to determine the agricultural losses and that, in contrast to contrary statements, all agricultural losses determined by the assessor to date have been compensated.
Contact for affected farmers and land owners
Ulrich Deltz
Head of EPC
Phone: +49 (0)421-3304220
Email: ulrich.deltz@energiekontor.com
Holger Niehuisen
Technical Project Coordinator
Mobile: +49 (0)162 2802032
Email: holger.niehuisen@energiekontor.com
Contact for offices, authorities and other institutions
Stefan Rimbeck
Head of Operations Management
Mobile: +49 (0)162-1313044
Email: stefan.rimbeck@energiekontor.com
Contact for press and investors
Julia Pschribülla
Head of Investor & Public Relations
Phone: +49 (0)421-3304126
Email: julia.pschribuella@energiekontor.com
As a renewable energy company, Energiekontor makes a contribution to an independent, affordable and climate-friendly energy supply in Germany - today and in the future. Energiekontor deeply regrets the damage that has once again been caused and shares the disappointment and anger that has arisen locally.
Energiekontor is aware of its responsibility and will continue to do everything in its power to remedy the damage caused in the best possible and sustainable way for the benefit of those affected and the environment, while also holding the manufacturer, GE Wind Energy GmbH, to account.
Kind regards,
Energiekontor AG
Mary-Somerville-Strasse 5
28359 Bremen
Germany
www.energiekontor.de