Transferred charge and specific energy associated with lightning hitting wind turbines in Japan

Abstract

Cumulative distributions of charge amount and specific energy of upward winter lightning flashes, observed by Rogowski coils instrumented on wind turbines in the coastal area of the Sea of Japan, were analyzed. Among 284 current data recorded at 16 measuring sites, the transferred charge of 13 lightning flashes exceeded 300 C, and the specific energy of 2 flashes exceeded 10 MJ/Ω. The medians of transferred charge are about 60% higher than those observed at Nikaho wind farm in winter for the three types of current, negative, positive and bipolar. Importance of observation at multiple sites is manifest. © 2012 The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan.