Wind energy installation and a method of operating a wind energy installation

A method of operating a wind energy installation including a rotor with a first rotor blade that can be adjusted in terms of its angle, a first adjustment drive for adjusting the first rotor blade, and a safety control device/system, the method comprising:

• in a normal mode of operation, supplying the first adjustment drive with energy from an energy source and controlling the first adjustment drive with a first pitch control device/system;
• in a failure mode of operation:
• switching the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive from the energy source over to a first energy storage device if switching the supply of energy has not already occurred, and
• monitoring at least one of a position or a movement of the first rotor blade with the safety control device/system;
• and
• in the failure mode of operation, at least one of:
• adjusting the first rotor blade with the first adjustment drive in a direction of a predetermined stopping position, while enabling or effecting with the safety control device/system, based on the monitored position or movement, a deactivation of a first power supply shut-off device that is configured to cut off the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive from the first energy storage device in response to a position of the first rotor blade being in a shut-off range, or
• based on the monitored position or movement, closing a first pitch brake using the safety control device/system and activating with the safety control device/system a first blocking mode in which at least one of the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive from the first energy storage device or an opening of the first pitch brake is prevented, wherein the first pitch brake is configured for stopping the first rotor blade, and wherein the safety control device/system closes the first pitch brake instead of a pitch brake closing switching device that is configured to close the first pitch brake in response to a position of the first rotor blade being in a pitch brake closing range.