Victorian Opposition Calls for Wind Farm Safety Audit Following Turbine Collapse
The Victorian opposition has called for a safety audit of wind farms after a turbine collapse at Berrybank Wind Farm. Experts stress the need to investigate the incident before implementing state-wide audits.
The Victorian opposition is demanding a safety audit of the state's wind farms after a wind turbine collapsed at the Berrybank Wind Farm, located west of Geelong.
Photos taken at the site reveal the blades of the turbine lying on the ground following the incident on Tuesday morning. Structural engineer, Associate Professor Amin Heidarpour from Monash University, stated that the turbine should have been able to withstand strong winds.
"It is totally unacceptable to see a two-year-old wind turbine collapse," he remarked.
The government indicated that a section of the turbine detached during severe thunderstorms, with winds reaching speeds of 60-70 kilometres per hour. Dr Heidarpour noted that while the expected lifespan of a wind turbine is about 30 years, components of the structure may require earlier replacements.
"The turbine consists of a foundation, a vertical tower, and blades, and it appears that the failure occurred in the blades based on online images," he explained.
Dr Heidarpour further added that Australian wind farm structures are designed to endure winds of at least 108 kilometres per hour, stating, "But 70kph does not meet this threshold."
In response to the incident, Global Power Generation, the operator of the wind farm and a subsidiary of Spanish company Naturgy, has temporarily paused operations of the remaining turbines while securing the site.
Clean Energy Council spokesperson Nicholas Aberle expressed that the safety of workers in the renewables sector is of utmost priority. "Thankfully, we can confirm there were no injuries or fatalities from this incident," he stated.
He mentioned that incidents like this are quite rare since wind turbines are designed for longevity, and he would like to see the findings of the ongoing investigation.
"One report suggested this could have been caused by a major lightning strike," Dr Aberle noted. "It’s important to determine if this incident involved any preventable factors so that others can learn from this."
Currently, calls for a state-wide audit by the Victorian opposition may be premature, according to Dr Heidarpour. He suggested that before deciding on a blanket assessment of all wind turbines, it’s essential to first identify the specific cause of the collapse.
"A feasible and optimum approach must be considered to assess these turbines," he concluded.
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