FACT CHECK | Is de-icing of wind turbines done using glycol-based fluids? No.

A claim circulating on social media suggests that wind turbine blades are de-iced using glycol-based fluids, similar to aircraft. In reality, wind turbines are not de-iced in the same way as airplanes. Only one wind farm in Estonia conducts de-icing, and it uses electric blade heating. In cold conditions where blade icing is a risk, turbines shut down.A Facebook post claims that wind farm developers are not disclosing that „sometimes de-icing needs to be done on the blades, similar to airplanes.“ The post references glycol-based de-icing fluids and features a photo of a helicopter spraying liquid on a turbine blade, claiming it’s a glycol mixture. The author also mentions that electric heating solutions are used for the blades.To support the claim, the post cites a Wikipedia article about de-icing fluids: „Many de-icing fluids, including glycol-based ones, are toxic to humans and other mammals and harmful to ecosystems where the fluids are discharged, such as around airports. The use of such fluids can lead to changes in nearby aquatic habitats, harming fish and other wildlife.“The post also includes a photo with a caption: „This is what it looks like when glycol mix is sprayed onto turbine blades by helicopter…“In fact, the image is from a 2015 presentation. The image used was taken in a Swedish wind farm, where also no chemicals were used. Hot water was used for de-icing.The Facebook post has been shared around 2,200 times and has been seen by nearly 100,000 people.Facts In Estonia, wind turbines are not de-iced using glycol-based fluids.Enefit Green uses electric blade heating in one wind farm.The circulating image is from 2015 and shows the use of hot water, not chemicals, for de-icing.De-icing of Wind Turbines in EstoniaThe fact-checking team contacted Enefit Green, Utilitas, and Eleon. All wind farm operators confirmed that glycol-based fluids are not used for de-icing. According to available information, electric blade heating is used in only one wind farm in Estonia.„I’ve never even heard of anyone offering a blade de-icing solution like the ones used on airplanes,“ said Eleon CEO Oleg Sõnajalg, commenting on the circulating claim.„De-icing is only needed in extreme weather conditions. Enefit Green performs separate de-icing in two of its wind farms: the Tolpanvaara wind farm in northern Finland and the Ojaküla wind farm in Estonia. In these parks, we’ve installed heated blades with systems that automatically monitor weather conditions and activate heating as needed,“ explained Enefit Green’s communications manager Kadri Korsten.Utilitas communications manager Kadri Hansalu confirmed that Utilitas does not carry out separate de-icing. „The turbines are equipped with automation that stops them when ice forms. Once the ice falls off, the turbines are restarted,“ Hansalu said. Korsten also emphasized that in most cases, the ice is allowed to fall off naturally. „To ensure safety, we’ve installed warning signs in our wind farms. Therefore, during winter, it’s important to keep a safe distance from the turbines,“ she added.Thus, the claim that wind turbines are de-iced like airplanes is false.The Photo Shows Water Being Used for De-IcingThe image circulating with the post was taken in the Uljabuoda wind farm in Sweden. It shows a helicopter from the company Alpine Helicopter spraying hot water onto turbine blades for de-icing. The photo is from a 2015 presentation at the international wind energy conference Winterwind. According to the presentation, Alpine began testing the hot water method via helicopter in 2013 and emphasized that no chemicals were used in the process.This image has previously been spread multiple times in social media posts containing misinformation.Verdict: False. De-icing of wind turbines is generally not done in Estonia. Enefit Green uses heated blades for de-icing at the Ojaküla wind farm. The photo is from 2015 and shows a helicopter using water—not chemicals—for de-icing.