Wind turbines installed at the new Waterloo wind farm project in South Australia have been equipped with self-contained, automatic detection and suppression systems that ensure fast acting, around-the-clock fire protection. Each of the transformer rooms and electrical cabinets in the nacelles of the 3 MW Vestas V90 turbines have been fitted with FIRETRACE© systems that have shown themselves to reliably withstand the vibration, dirt, dust, and temperature extremes known to cause traditional systems to fail in these challenging environments.
The decision to entrust fire safety to FIRETRACE followed extensive field trials undertaken in wind turbines in Tasmania by Hobart, Tasmania-based Roaring 40s Renewable Energy – a partnership between China Light & Power Group and Hydro Tasmania – which is operating the AUD$330 million, 111 MW Waterloo farm. The farm is located near the Clare Valley, about 100 km north of Adelaide on a rocky ridge surrounded by gently sloping farm land.
