Do wind turbines freeze up in the cold?

You might have heard how wind turbines failed in Texas during a terrible cold front in 2021. Does this mean we can’t rely on this clean, renewable source of energy when the weather turns extreme? MIT Professor Michael Howland joins the podcast to explain how wind turbine operators prepare for frigid conditions, and why some turbines failed in Texas while others are working fine in Antarctica.

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Credits

Laur Hesse Fisher, Host and Executive Producer

David Lishansky, Editor and Producer

Aaron Krol, Writer and Producer

Michelle Harris, Fact Checker

Music by Blue Dot Sessions

Artwork by Aaron Krol