Abstract
This paper presents the characteristics of lightning over established and scheduled wind farms of Jeju island as well as over specific range of entire Jeju Island. The lightning data for 5 years from 2008 to 2012 was obtained from IMPACT ESP which detects lightning. Lightning frequency, lightning strength and regional lightning events were analyzed in detail, and then the lightning maps of Jeju Island were created. The evaluation of lightning rate was made for all the wind farms of this study. Damage to wind turbines by lightning was found in the existing wind farms. As a result, the eastern part of Jeju Island had more lightning frequency than the western part of the Island. Also, the evaluation of lightning rate was good for all established and scheduled wind farms of Jeju Island. Hankyung is the best place for lightning safety, while precaution should be taken against lightning damage in Kimnyung. Lightning damage to wind turbines occurred in Samdal and Haengwon wind farms, which had the first and the second highest lightning rate of the five existing wind farms.
