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Europe's largest operational wind turbine -- the 3 MW WEG LS1 on Orkney -- began the year with a record-breaking run. From the end of December the turbine generated at and near to full power. It withstood five days of gales, operating throughout and producing more power in one period than ever before. In the week beginning January 1, the machine ran for 144 hours and provided 291,500/kWh. It was then stopped, inspected and put back on line. The LS1 returned to service in 1995 following a three year shutdown due to cracks in the blade hub. It was repaired and recommissioned by a group of renewable energy engineers who formed a company to operate it. Scottish Hydro Electric buys the machine's output at around half the average electricity pool price.