October 6, 2020
Australia

Blade falls from Dundonnell Wind Farm turbine, launching investigation

Jackson Graham | The Standard | October 6 2020 | www.standard.net.au

A blade has fallen from a south-west wind farm, launching an investigation to determine exactly how the dangerous incident occurred.

LOST BLADE: The wind farm with the missing blade pictured from the Hamilton Highway on Monday. Picture: Supplied.

Tilt Renewables chief executive officer Deion Campbell said the blade fell from a turbine hub at the Dundonnell Wind Farm on Monday.

"There were no injuries caused by the incident and there is no damage to any other property or wind turbines to report," Mr Campbell said.

The blade fell around 8.30pm and the company has since removed all turbines from operation while an investigation of the damage occurs.

"A root cause analysis will be completed in conjunction with the wind turbine manufacturer, Vestas, which will inform the assurance process on the other turbines prior to these being returned to service," Mr Campbell said.

"Appropriate commercial and contractual provisions are in place to mitigate the effects of an incident of this nature and at this time it is not expected to materially impact the business."

Performance modelling and testing was under way and last week had allowed all 80 turbines to operate for the first time, but the site was only allowed to have a 150 megawatt output. Tilt had plans for the site reach its full 336MW towards the end of 2020.

Darlington resident Hamish Cumming lives near the wind farm and has opposed the development due to its impacts on birds. He said the community deserved answers about why the blade fell.

"It's very much a WorkSafe issue if you have something that can fall off when you're working on your farm or animals," Mr Cumming said.

"Tilt needs to tell the community why it failed and then the course of action would follow after why it failed."

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2020/10/06/blade-falls-from-dundonnell-wind-farm-turbine-launching-investigation/