Powerful twister topples turbines and sparks fire, but experts stress such events are highly unusual
A tornado has caused significant damage to a wind farm in southwest Iowa, toppling five large wind turbines and even igniting one in flames. The rare and extreme event has raised questions about the resilience of wind farms in the face of such severe weather, though experts highlight that this type of damage is uncommon.
The devastating footage from the MidAmerican Energy Company’s Orient wind farm near Greenfield, Iowa, showed the powerful tornado ripping through the landscape, uprooting trees, and sending debris flying. The wind speed at several of the turbines was recorded at over 100 mph just before they were destroyed.
MidAmerican Energy, which has been operating wind farms since 2004, referred to the event as an “unprecedented impact” on its wind fleet. Despite occasional incidents of tornadoes and hurricanes damaging wind turbines in the past, Jason Ryan of the American Clean Power Association pointed out that such occurrences are rare.
Wind turbines are typically situated far from populated areas, reducing the likelihood of direct hits. The U.S. is home to almost 73,000 operational turbines, with many located in the “wind belt” stretching from Texas to the Dakotas, including parts of Iowa. These areas, however, are also prone to tornadoes, particularly during springtime.
Meteorologist Jennifer Thompson from the National Weather Service noted the overlap between regions with frequent tornado activity and the areas where wind farms are concentrated.
While wind turbines are designed to endure high winds, tornadoes—especially powerful EF4 or EF5 storms—are an exceptional challenge. Engineering professor Sri Sritharan of Iowa State University explained that turbines are not designed to withstand direct hits from such extreme tornadoes.
Although turbine designs account for factors such as high wind speeds, this rare event may lead to updates in industry standards. Sritharan suggested that committees may reassess their design codes in light of the recent damage.
