Firetrace International is a leading provider of fire-suppression systems for the wind industry. T&D India caught up with David Redmond, Vice President–Engineering, Firetrace International, shortly after Firetrace won a major order in USA to supply fire-suppression systems to wind turbines aggregating 500 mw. In this exclusive exchange, David Redmond explains why Firetrace’s technology is superior to conventional fire-mitigation systems, and why efficient fire-suppression systems are moving from “nice-to-have” to “must-have” for wind farms across the globe. An interaction by Venugopal Pillai.
We broadly understand that Firetrace is engaged in the business of fire suppression systems. Please explain what a fire suppression system does.
A fire suppression system is any technology that puts out a fire, rather than just minimizing flammability or detecting a flame. Our suppression system automatically puts out fires at their source through the use of innovative “detection tubing”. When a fire starts, the tubing ruptures and releases a clean agent that extinguishes it.
Fire suppression systems prevent the fire from spreading throughout the area, which can otherwise cause extensive and costly damage to assets as well as present a major risk to any people nearby.
According to estimates made by Firetrace International, the total loss arising from a wind turbine that has caught fire can be anywhere between $4.5 million to $9 million. It can take up to 18 months to re-commission a wind turbine that has caught fire, and the odds of a wind turbine catching fire over its lifespan is 1 in 100.
To which industries are fire suppression systems most useful? Which industries/sectors does Firetrace currently cover?
We mainly see fire suppression taken up by any industry that recognizes the risk of electrical fires. So far, Firetrace has been installed in control panels and data servers for a variety of infrastructure, from ports to subway stations to wind turbines.
Currently, we have installed our suppression system on over 250,000 wind turbines worldwide.
Speaking of wind turbines, what are the typical causes of a turbine catching fire? How do Firetrace systems detect fire and prevent wind turbine damage?
Wind turbines can catch fire due to electrical or mechanical faults which lead to ignition. These sparks can then spread to the surrounding plastics and fiberglass nacelle, fueling a fire.
Turbine fires tend to originate in the nacelle at one of three points of ignition – converter and capacitor cabinets, transformer or the brake. Wind turbines currently tower over 80m, putting the nacelle out of reach for ground-based firefighting. As such, automatic fire suppression is the only safe way to put out a fire that is sparked in the nacelle.
Wind turbines have grown to staggering new heights, with new designs and components developed to enable these assets to generate more megawatts of power. However, many of these advances in design and technology expose the turbine to additional risk of catastrophic fires.
Installing a fire suppression system at the three most common ignition points in the nacelle will ensure that any fire damage to the turbine is minimal and allow it to continue operating without replacement.
With respect to wind turbine fire suppression systems, which countries does Firetrace cater to? Have you been supplying to India?
Firetrace currently supplies fire suppression systems for wind farms across the world, with our biggest market in the US. We have been present in the Indian market for more than a decade, primarily providing fire suppression systems for electric panels and data centers in infrastructure and highly populated buildings.
Fire is a major risk for wind turbine owners due to the difficulties of suppressing fires at the height of wind turbines and in the remote locations these assets are placed, says Firetrace International.
Firetrace recently won an order to supply fire-suppression systems to 500 mw worth of wind farms in USA. Do you see this order opening more avenues for Firetrace in USA that has over 106 GW of installed wind power capacity?
Currently, our turbines are installed on over 5 GW of turbines across the USA. We expect that as the industry becomes more and more aware of the financial and reputational cost posed by wind turbine fires, fire suppression systems will become not just a “nice to have” but a “must-have” for all operating wind farms to remain insurable.
We understand that Firetrace is planning to start operations in India, with plans of even opening a manufacturing facility.
Currently, all Firetrace products are manufactured in the USA. As such, we are opening a manufacturing facility in India this quarter to support our clients in this market to reduce transport and cost.
Which are the potential areas that you would like to pursue in India? Specifically, does the wind energy sector hold potential?
Wind energy in India is seeing phenomenal growth. Many of the turbine manufacturers in Europe and the US are moving into this market, with players like Vestas opening up factories in Ahmedabad and Chennai.
Wind turbine fires aren’t limited to a single country – each market may have its own risks, but an electrical fire is universal. We are following our clients outside of Europe and the US and into Asia, to ensure that a safe energy transition throughout the globe.
Photographs, in order of appearance, show (1) a wind turbine catching fire after a lightning strike. (2) fire-suppression systems of Firetrace International (3) a wind turbine nacelle damaged by fire.
