Vestas launches probe as newly installed V150 turbine collapses in Sweden

Vestas and developer Wpd are investigating the collapse of a newly installed V150 turbine at the 72MW Aldermyrberget Aldermyrberget (72MW) OnshoreSkellefteå, Västerbotten County, Sweden, Europe Click to see full details wind farm in Västerbotten County, northern Sweden.

Nobody was injured when the V150-4.2M turbine collapsed, a Vestas spokesman told Windpower Monthly.

Pictures on Swedish national news sites show the tower had broken a few metres from the ground, bringing down the rest of the tower, nacelle and blades.

The turbine manufacturer and developer began a root cause analysis of the incident over the weekend, but it is too early to say what the cause might have been, the spokesman added.

He advised that this analysis was “not being made easier” by weather conditions in Västerbotten County – with peaks of 2.7C yesterday and snow forecast this week – and Covid-19 restrictions.

All 17 of the V150-4.2MW turbines at the Aldermyrberget site had been installed but are yet to be handed over to Wpd for commissioning.

The Vestas spokesman added that this was supposed to happen in December. It is too early to say whether this will still happen or be delayed, he said.

The V150-4.2MW is the same model turbine that failed at an Ohio wind farm earlier this year. One of the  recently commissioned turbine’s blades broke off in September.