Lightning strikes remain one of the leading causes of blade damage, downtime, and repair costs in wind energy. As turbines grow taller and blades get longer, the risk is only increasing, particularly from upward lightning, which turbines themselves can trigger.
In a recent webinar hosted by SkySpecs in partnership with UpTime, experts from Eologix, EDF Renewables, and SkySpecs shared practical insights into how operators can better detect, inspect, and repair lightning damage on wind turbines. Their discussion revealed three consistent themes: detection, inspection, and risk-based repair.
Why Lightning Is a Growing Risk for Wind Turbines
Lightning isn’t new to the industry, but the nature of strikes is changing. Operators are seeing more upward lightning events, longer in duration, and often more damaging than traditional downward strikes.
The financial impact is significant. Blade lightning damage costs the industry millions annually in lost energy production, repairs, and downtime. Meanwhile, OEM warranties and insurance coverage are tightening, often excluding lightning damage. The responsibility now falls on operators to manage the risk effectively.
Step 1: Detect – Precision Matters
Traditional lightning maps provide regional context but are too broad for wind turbine lightning detection. They can trigger unnecessary inspections and still miss critical strikes.
New on-turbine sensors, like those from Eologix, provide turbine-level accuracy and detect both downward and upward strikes. This precision helps operators act quickly, avoid wasted site visits, and focus resources where they’re truly needed.
Step 2: Inspect – Surface and Internal Damage
Once a strike is detected, targeted inspection is essential. Drone inspections remain a key tool for identifying external signs of blade lightning damage, while integrated platforms like SkySpecs Horizon ensure findings are captured and managed efficiently.
But surface damage tells only part of the story. Internal blade inspections are increasingly critical for spotting hidden lightning damage. New solutions like Skycrawler are helping operators see beneath the surface to prevent long-term structural risks.
Step 3: Repair – Risk-Based Blade Repair Strategy
Not all lightning strikes are equal. A risk-based repair strategy ensures operators act where the damage poses the greatest threat while avoiding unnecessary costs. EDF Renewables shared a simple framework:
- Tip strikes – often cosmetic, lower risk.
- Mid-span / spar cap strikes – higher risk, often requiring internal checks.
- Root strikes – highest concern, due to structural stress loads.
By aligning inspection data with strike location, operators can prioritize repairs that safeguard turbine performance and reduce downtime.
Key Takeaways
- Lightning is unavoidable, but damage is manageable with the right approach.
- Turbine-level detection reduces wasted inspections and accelerates response times.
- Targeted inspections, both external and internal, reveal the full scope of damage.
- Risk-based repair frameworks allow operators to focus on high-impact interventions.
- Wind energy asset management is evolving, and lightning protection strategies must keep pace.
As one panelist concluded: “Lightning will strike. The challenge is to prepare, detect, and respond in ways that keep turbines operating safely and profitably.”
Watch the Webinar Recording
Want to dive deeper? Get the full recording of the SkySpecs + UpTime webinar on lightning risk in wind energy and hear directly from the experts.
