Wind farm shutdown as probe into accident is launched
An investigation has been launched after the blade of a wind turbine above Llanmiloe snapped.
Fortunately, no-one was hurt in the incident at Parc Cynog at around 5pm on Sunday afternoon.
Although the blade was still attached to the turbine, debris was strews across a 10m radius around the column.
The site has five turbines standing at more than 60m, with a blade diameter of 48m.
Bosses at Nuon Renewables, which owns the site, have launched an investigation and shut down the remaining turbines.
The incident has rocked the village, where some residents are fighting to block plans to triple the output of Parc Cynog, with an additional six 80m turbines.
Protester and resident Hugh Davies, of Westmead Close, said the situation could have been much worse.
He told the Journal: “The wind farm is on the hill above Westmead Close and there is also the school here.
“That blade could have come away completely and spun down the hill, hitting the school or people’s homes.”
Llanmiloe community councillor and chair of the village residents’ association Jan Done said:
“This has rattled the village. It is lucky it happened when it did, as children were not in school, and also that the blade didn’t fly off.”
Nuon Renewables spokesman Al Hanagan said: “Engineers are currently on site investigating the circumstances and cause of the failure.
“No-one was injured as a result of the failure, and the broken blade is still attached to the hub. The turbine automatically shut down when the blade failed.
“In line with standard procedure, the other turbines at Parc Cynog have been switched off whilst the initial investigation proceeds.”
By Ian Lewis
Carmarthen Journal
28 February 2007
(courtesy of Save Our Common Mountain Environment)
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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