Calls for turbine collapse investigation
CONSERVATIVE regional MS for South Wales West Altaf Hussain has written to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) asking it to investigate the circumstances under which a 300ft wind turbine collapsed at the Pant y Wal windfarm.
Photos taken at the wind farm, which sits above the village of Gilfach Goch in Rhondda Cynon Taf, on Monday, February 14, showed the huge turbine lying on the ground, separated from its base with its blades completely destroyed.
An investigation is now under way into how it happened, but Dr Hussain has pressed the need for an urgent probe into the accident and shares the concerns of residents living near existing windfarms in the Afan, Neath and Swansea valley areas who are worried that similar turbines may also collapse.
Dr Hussain said: “While this turbine was near Gilfach Goch, there are dozens of others like it dotted around the mountainsides throughout the area.
“Although they are located away from people’s homes, many hill walkers, bird watchers and others enjoy rambling across our mountains. We need to know if this was a single isolated incident or if there was a problem with something like metal fatigue which could affect other turbines.
“This crashed down without warning and it is just lucky that nobody was injured. There may also be a threat to the safety of the workers who service and maintain these giant structures.
“I am echoing the concerns already expressed by residents of
Bryn, Cwmafan and Maesteg who are faced with the prospect of having turbines more than 700ft in height – twice the height of this one – which are being proposed as part of the Y Bryn windfarm planned for Margam Mountain.
“We need to be assured that there is no inherent structural issues with wind turbines which need to be strong enough to withstand high wind velocities as this is what they are supposed to do.
“If one collapsed that was 300ft high, how much greater risk of this will there be with turbines more than twice that height having to face wind speeds in excess of 80mph as we had recently during Storm Eunice?”
Dr Hussain has also asked the Welsh Government’s Climate Change Minister Julie James for clarity about where responsibility lies for ensuring the safety of wind turbines.
He added: “We need to know where the buck stops, it looks as if responsibility for investigating the cause of the collapse at Gilfach Goch is being left to the windfarm company and turbine manufacturers.
“However, I feel that this is like asking pupils to mark their own homework. We need to know if it is HSE or some other public body which has the power to inspect these turbines and to ensure that they remain safe for both workers and the general public.
“Some of these turbines are 15 years old or more and may be coming to the end of their lives.
“There could be a tragedy in the making here unless there are clear lines of responsibility that should be followed.”
Gilfach Goch residents estimate that the turbines have been up for about five years less than the average lifespan of a turbine, which is usually 20 years. They worry this may be the start of more failures.
Responding to the concerns raised, a spokesman for the HSE said: “HSE acknowledges the letter sent by Dr Hussain and following initial inquiries, has started a formal investigation into the collapse of the turbine at the Pant y Wal windfarm.
“As this is a live investigation, we cannot comment on actions taken or proposed at this stage.
“HSE will work with the health and safety organisations for the onshore and offshore wind sectors, to ensure that any findings and lessons learned are shared with those sectors.”