Abstract

Accidents with wind turbines can be dangerous for people in the surrounding area, for instance if a wind turbine falls over or a blade breaks off. The chance of an accident is small. As a precaution, the Netherlands has made policy to limit the risks of this.

The risks to the surrounding area are estimated using a calculation method. RIVM has re-examined the calculation method and updated it, so that it is better suitable for the wind turbines that are now being installed. This prepares the Netherlands for the future. This is particularly important because more and more wind turbines are needed for the energy transition.

The update was necessary because the calculation method no longer suited the technical developments of the latest wind turbines. For instance, they have become larger and have more safeguards to prevent accidents. This has reduced the chance of an accident. In some cases, however the potential consequences of an accident have become worse, for example because a broken-off blade is now larger.

RIVM advises the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to use the updated calculation method to make policy for the safe placement of wind turbines and risks to the surrounding area. The calculation method is relevant for people working on spatial planning, such as plans for new residential areas.

For this study, RIVM collected and analysed information about wind turbines and the accidents that have occurred. Based on this, it determined the probability of an accident and its effects.