Published

4 months ago

July 1, 2025

Alice Rush

Case Study: How StrikeTape Transformed Wind Operations On Japan’s Lightning-Prone Coast

Zero Lightning Damage in 8 Months

A major wind farm operation located along the Sea of Japan coastline experienced devastating lightning damage. Frequent strikes damaged wind turbine blades, causing unscheduled downtime and emergency repairs. The operator turned to Weather Guard Lightning Tech’s StrikeTape technology for a solution. The results were clear: in the eight months following installation, the turbines experienced zero blade damage, compared to 249 lightning strikes and 12 severely damaged blades in the previous period.

The Challenge: Sea of Japan Coastline Lightning Environment

The Sea of Japan coastline is one of the world’s most challenging lightning environments for wind energy operations. This region experiences frequent lightning strikes throughout the year, with particularly severe storms during winter months. The combination of maritime weather patterns and topographical features creates what meteorologists describe as large positive lightning strikes with 100+ kiloamperes of continuing current – some of the most destructive lightning conditions on Earth.

Mounting Damage Threatened Wind Project’s Profitability

Before identifying and implementing the StrikeTape solution, the wind farm was experiencing frequent, catastrophic lightning-related damage. It was obvious that the turbine’s built-in LPS wasn’t protecting the equipment.

249 confirmed lightning strikes to turbines over the monitoring period
12 turbine blades suffered severe damage requiring extensive repairs or replacement
Repeated damage to blade trailing edges from lightning strikes
Operations frequently disrupted by emergency repairs and safety inspections
Mounting maintenance costs threatened project profitability

The facility was caught in a vicious cycle: lightning would strike, blades would suffer damage, operations would halt for repairs, and the cycle would repeat. Operations managers onsite identified StrikeTape as a potential solution.

Evaluating StrikeTape Lightning Protection Solution Technology

Owing to both its design features and technical specifications, Weather Guard Lightning Tech’s StrikeTape represents a breakthrough in wind turbine lightning protection. Unlike traditional systems that rely on bulky receptors and down conductors, StrikeTape uses advanced conductive polymer technology and materials that integrate seamlessly with turbine blade surfaces.

Key technical features the operations team considered included StrikeTape’s use of advanced materials that had been rain-erosion and high-current tested. They also considered that similar designs and materials have been approved for use in commercial, private and military aircraft, and field tested in aviation, for more than 30 years.

Advanced Materials:

Gold-plated and reinforced construction for maximum conductivity
Aerospace-grade substrate for long-term durability
Only 1mm thick profile for minimal aerodynamic impact
10mm width for optimal lightning attachment

Installation Advantages: Simple, Efficient Process

StrikeTape’s professional installation process is efficient, and can be completed by a technician up tower or when the blade is on the ground for other maintenance, such as during a repowering project or scheduled repair. The typical installation expectation is:

10 minutes per blade for application
12 blades per day installation capacity
45 minute total installation time for complete turbine protection
13 feet of StrikeTape per blade application

The installation process offers significant advantages over traditional lightning protection systems, including:

Minimal Downtime: Quick installation during routine maintenance windows
No Structural Modifications: No drilling or permanent alterations to blade structure
Scalable Application: Can be applied to existing turbines without major retrofitting
Immediate Protection: Full lightning protection active immediately upon installation

Remarkable Results: Complete Elimination of Lightning Damage

The transformation was immediate and dramatic. Over eight months of intensive monitoring following StrikeTape installation, the results exceeded all expectations. Although strike activity remained high, the turbines experienced no lightning damage.

Strike Activity: Still High, Damage: Zero

96 lightning strikes recorded hitting turbines during the 8-month, post-installation monitoring period
0 blades damaged despite continued lightning activity
Zero lightning-related downtime since installation completion

The data tells a compelling story: lightning didn’t stop striking the turbines, but the devastating damage completely disappeared.

Visual Inspection: Evidence of Protection

Post-installation inspections revealed clear evidence of StrikeTape’s effectiveness:

Visible signs of lightning strikes along the StrikeTape trailing edges
Lightning receptors melted along the radius between tip and trailing edge, exactly where designed
StrikeTape remains intact and continues providing protection
No structural blade damage despite direct lightning attachment

This visual evidence confirms that StrikeTape is successfully attracting and safely conducting lightning strikes away from vulnerable blade structures.

The Technology Behind the Success: How it Works

StrikeTape’s effectiveness stems from its innovative approach to lightning protection: Rather than trying to prevent lightning strikes, the system provides preferred attachment points and safe conduction paths.

Lightning Attraction: The conductive polymer material creates preferred attachment points for lightning
Safe Conduction: Strikes are safely conducted along the StrikeTape pathway
Energy Dissipation: Lightning energy is harmlessly directed away from blade structures
Continued Protection: The system remains functional even after multiple strikes

Beyond Damage Prevention: Operational Excellence

While the primary goal of the StrikeTape installation was to eliminate lightning damage at the wind farm, benefits extended beyond reducing downtime and repair expenditures.

Operational Reliability

More Predictable Maintenance Schedules as lightning-related emergency repairs were eliminated
Improved Equipment Availability and Production because turbines remained in operation during storm seasons
Enhanced Safety Record due to reduced risk to maintenance personnel

Financial Impact

Reduced Repair Costs: No blade replacement or major lightning repairs
Reduced Insurance Claims: Improved risk profile with potential of premium reductions
Revenue Protection: Maintained power generation during peak wind season

Long-Term Asset Protection

Extended Blade Life: Protection from cumulative lightning damage
Maintained Performance: No aerodynamic degradation from lightning damage
Asset Value Preservation: Protected investment in wind generation assets

Lessons for the Global Wind Industry

This case study provides valuable insights for wind operators worldwide, even if they face a less challenging lightning environment. The remarkable success of this StrikeTape installation on Japan’s high-intensity lightning-prone coast demonstrates that advanced lightning protection technology like StrikeTape can fundamentally change how the wind industry approaches lightning risk.

Lightning Doesn’t Have to Mean Damage

The traditional assumption that lightning strikes inevitably cause turbine damage has been proven false. With proper protection technology, turbines can safely handle direct lightning strikes without operational impact.

Quick Implementation of Retrofit Solution Can Yield Immediate Results

Unlike major infrastructure upgrades, advanced lightning protection can be implemented quickly during routine maintenance, providing immediate operational benefits.

Investment Protection Pays Dividends

The cost of proactive lightning protection is minimal compared to the ongoing expense of lightning damage repairs and operational disruptions.

As wind farms continue expanding into lightning-prone regions worldwide, this Japanese installation provides a roadmap for operational success in even the most challenging environments.

The Bottom Line

Eight months of operation with zero lightning damage despite 96 lightning strikes represented more than just technical success; for the wind farm operators in this challenging lightning environment, it was an operational transformation. The lesson for wind projects is clear: lightning is inevitable, but lightning damage is preventable.

For more information about StrikeTape lightning protection technology and installation services, contact Weather Guard Wind at 1.413.217.1139 or info@wglightning.com.

About Weather Guard Wind: Weather Guard Wind specializes in advanced lightning protection solutions for wind energy applications, with installations protecting turbines worldwide in the most challenging lightning environments.

https://weatherguardwind.com/case-study-how-striketape-transformed-wind-operations-on-japans-lightning-prone-coast/

Renewable Energy

Trump Welcomes Qatar to Build Air Force Base in Idaho

Published

2 days ago

October 12, 2025

Alice Rush

No one seems to understand Trump’s motivation here. Did it have anything to do with the $400 million gift aircraft?

Does Qatar fear attack from Alberta or Saskatoon?

The Qataris say they need to be prepared to help achieve peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. I’m suspicious, though I’m no expert in military logistics. We’re talking about a 6000-mile plane ride.

Trump Welcomes Qatar to Build Air Force Base in Idaho

Renewable Energy

Trump’s Avalanche of Lies

Published

2 days ago

October 12, 2025

Alice Rush

What? I’m confused. “Trump’s Statement” of a few months was that “Gas prices are (present tense) under $2.”

It would have been interesting if one of the gaggle of reporters surrounding him could have asked the obvious question: “That’s great, sir, but can you name a single state in the union whose gas prices are under $2?

It would have been a tense moment, for sure, but don’t we have any self-respect?

Trump’s Avalanche of Lies

Renewable Energy

Where Does Domestic Violence Come From?

Published

2 days ago

October 12, 2025

Alice Rush

Over the past few months, and especially since the murder of Charlie Kirk, the right-wing news sources are telling us that most of the politically related violence is coming from the left, in particular from the left-wing “terrorist associations,” e.g., Antifa.

If you look at some coverage on the subject, however, you’ll learn that this is simple false. Here’s a bit from a PBS piece:

PBS: Policymakers and the public need reliable evidence and actual data to understand the reality of politically motivated violence.

Craig: No, they don’t. Are you serious? Are we to believe that Donald Trump is sending federal troops to democratically-led cities based on “reliable evidence and actual data?” This is a sick joke.

PBS: From our research on extremism, it’s clear that the president’s and Miller’s assertions about political violence from the left are not based on actual facts.

Here’s more from the PBS article:

After the Sept. 10, 2025, assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, President Donald Trump claimed that radical leftist groups foment political violence in the U.S., and “they should be put in jail.”

“The radical left causes tremendous violence,” he said, asserting that “they seem to do it in a bigger way” than groups on the right.

WATCH: Extremism scholar analyzes influence of rhetoric on political violence

Top presidential adviser Stephen Miller also weighed in after Kirk’s killing, saying that left-wing political organizations constitute “a vast domestic terror movement.”

“We are going to use every resource we have … throughout this government to identify, disrupt, dismantle and destroy these networks and make America safe again,” Miller said.

Political violence rising

The understanding of political violence is complicated by differences in definitions and the recent Department of Justice removal of an important government-sponsored study of domestic terrorists.

Political violence in the U.S. has risen in recent months and takes forms that go unrecognized. During the 2024 election cycle, nearly half of all states reported threats against election workers, including social media death threats, intimidation and doxing.

WATCH: Trump conspiracies inspire threats against judges, jurors and election workers

Kirk’s assassination illustrates the growing threat. The man charged with the murder, Tyler Robinson, allegedly planned the attack in writing and online.

This follows other politically motivated killings, including the June assassination of Democratic Minnesota state Rep. and former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband.

These incidents reflect a normalization of political violence. Threats and violence are increasingly treated as acceptable for achieving political goals, posing serious risks to democracy and society.