Engineers are working to restore the University of Maine Presque Isle’s wind turbine to normal.
UMPI disclosed on Jan. 5 that the seven-year-old, 600 kilowatt turbine was “disrupted by an unplanned equipment failure,” and not producing power.
Engineers believe a bearing in the main turbine drive failed and led to damage in the generator, UMPI spokesperson Rachael Rice said Monday. A new generator is due by mid-January 2016. UMPI has insurance for this kind of unexpected problem, Rice noted.
“The University looks forward to returning the turbine to normal operation as soon as possible.”
Since its installation in 2009, the $2 million turbine has produced 3.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity.
