Protection Measures on Wind Turbines against Lightning Strikes

Abstract

The major renewable energy sources can be considered wind, solar, hydro, biomass, geothermal and tidal. The adaptation of more renewables in European Union (EU) lowers the dependence on fossil fuels while energy production is getting more sustainable. Wind energy is the significant contributor on achieving the committed EU 2020 goals while the penetration of wind power plants follows an increasing trend in annual basis. Wind turbines of power plants are usually installed on high altitude areas where wind conditions have been proved that wind is sufficient for such projects. The installation altitude usually exceeds 1000m causing these structures vulnerable to lightning strikes. The lightning activity of an area has to be considered once a wind power plant is going to be installed. Additionally a wind turbine has to be designed and manufactured according to relevant IEC standards and special attention has to be given to the components which are most vulnerable like the blades and the nacelle. In the current paper will be discussed the effect and the potential disturbances that a lightning strike can cause to a wind turbine and also basic protection measures will be presented which allow the wind turbine to be effectively protected against lightning strikes.