One of the wind turbines in the Björkvattnet wind farm in Jämtland has suffered a new breakdown. On Friday morning, a 79-meter-long rotor blade broke off from one of the turbines at the site.
The wind farm consists of a total of 33 turbines. However, this incident is not unique to the area – similar problems have occurred previously.
The facility has experienced several incidents over the years. As early as during construction in 2021, a major accident occurred when a 150-meter-tall mobile crane collapsed. In connection with that event, hydraulic oil leaked into the surroundings, which led to about 50 tons of snow and gravel needing to be transported away from the site.
The cause of the latest breakdown is now being investigated, and the responsible manager describes the flying rotor blade as “unfortunate.”
– It is unfortunate that this is the third turbine at this particular park. The analysis will show if there is a connection, says operations manager Lars Bryngelsson to Jämtlands Tidning.
Several Breakdowns
The Björkvattnet wind farm has experienced several incidents since the facility was established. Already during the construction phase in 2021, a major accident took place when a roughly 150-meter-tall mobile crane collapsed on site. In connection with the accident, hydraulic oil leaked into the environment, necessitating the removal of around 50 tons of snow and gravel to clean up the area.
READ ALSO: REVEALED: Several Previous Environmental Failures at the Collapsed Wind Turbine
In the following years, several of the park’s wind turbines have experienced technical problems where rotor blades have broken or come loose. On at least two previous occasions, turbines in the facility have failed similarly, raising questions about operation and safety at the park.
Hundreds of Critical Comments
In the comments section of the local newspaper Jämtlands-Tidning, many readers express fierce criticism against the wind power expansion.
“This madness will be featured in the history books,” writes one person.
READ ALSO: “We think it’s good” – ornithologists on the halted wind farm
Another points out that it is actually not a “park”, as wind power companies and politicians often claim, but rather an industrial area.
Don’t Miss the Wind Power Investigation
In 2021, Samnytt produced a documentary series about wind power together with Madeleine Staaf Kura from Vindkraftsupplysningen. The first part of the investigation can be seen below: