Lightning Damage to Wind Turbine Blades From Wind Farms in the US

This paper presents statistical data about lightning damage on wind turbine blades reported at different wind farms in the U.S. The analysis is based on 304 cases of damage due to direct lightning attachment on the blade surface. This study includes a large variety of blades with different lengths, laminate structure, and lightning protection systems. The statistics consist of the distribution of lightning damage along the blade and classify the damage by severity. In addition, the frequency of lightning damage to more than one blade of a wind turbine after a thunderstorm is assessed. The results of the analysis show that the majority of lightning damage is concentrated at the tip of the blade. Furthermore, all of the blades involved in the study show great similarity in the distribution of damage along the blade and the characteristics of the damages, even concerning the significant differences in the blades' geometry and materials.