The update of IEC 61400-24 lightning protection of wind turbines

Abstract

The first edition of the IEC 61400 Wind Generator Systems – Part 24 Lightning Protection [1] was published as a technical report (TR) in July 2002, and as such its scope was to present lightning and lightning protection to a relatively young industry. It presented background statistical information on lightning damage to wind turbines and it gave guidance to lightning protection best practices. Since then the wind power industry has developed rapidly towards even larger wind turbines and into a booming and more mature industry in need of an industry standard for lightning protection. This is the background for the update of the IEC 61400-24 under preparation, which transforms the TR into a full standard based on the general lightning protection standards of the recent IEC 62305 series [2], on the general standards for EMC of the IEC 61000 series [3], the specific standards for electrical systems on machinery and the general standards for electrical systems, and with regard to the blades, on both the latest research and on the air craft industry standards issued by SAE / EUROCAE [4-5]. © ICLP2008 Local Organisation Committee 10-16-2