Wansbeck General wind turbine produces no power for two years

Nov 5 2009 The Journal

A WIND turbine at a North East hospital has produced no electricity since 2007, it emerged last night.

The engine at Wansbeck General Hospital, at Ashington, Northumberland has been out of service for two years because of a fault.

The news comes on the back of previous stories highlighting faults with turbines at Blyth and Kirkheaton, which left them inactive for long periods. Critics of wind power last night said the new revelation is further proof turbines are an unreliable source of electricity.

The 23.4 metre tall 100 kilowatt turbine was erected in 1992, a year ahead of the opening of the ‘low energy’ hospital.

It was intended to produce one tenth of the hospital’s energy and to power its wards and operating theatres.

But information provided to The Journal shows the turbine has produced no electricity since 2007.

The engine has not been operational because a fault developed on the tip of one of its blades, whereby its carbon fibre coating started to come loose.

The fault was repaired but later reappeared and the turbine was switched off.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which owns the hospital, said it has commissioned an external report to look into the feasibility of repairing and re-commissioning the structure or, if not practical, alternative uses to which it could be put.