All old wind turbines in Latvia—especially those no longer producing electricity—must be urgently inspected, Climate and Energy Minister Kaspars Melnis (ZZS) stated on Monday while inspecting a collapsed wind turbine in Bunkas parish.
In a post on the social platform X, Melnis said that an agreement had been reached with experts from Sadales tīkls, the State Construction Control Office, and the State Environmental Service to immediately carry out inspections of older turbines.
According to the information provided, the wind turbine that collapsed on Sunday, the 26th of April, had been manufactured in the 1990s and had not produced electricity for the past three years.
LETA previously reported that the Ministry of Climate and Energy is scheduled to hold a press conference on Tuesday, the 28th of April, to discuss challenges and regulatory changes in wind farm development, as well as next steps.
Melnis is also expected to present key findings and planned actions regarding historically built wind power plants in Latvia.
The owner of SIA Jaunmiki, Jānis Meisters, told LETA that around 8 a.m. the company received information from Sadales tīkls about a power outage, and by midday the wind park operator reported that one of the turbines had fallen. Electricity supply at the site was immediately shut off, and cleanup and recovery work is expected to begin on Monday.
Meisters estimates that the turbine most likely collapsed due to strong winds, and there are currently no suspicions of foul play. The exact cause of the incident is still under investigation.
The wind park consists of five small-capacity turbines, each with a capacity of 200 kilowatts, for a total capacity of one megawatt. The turbines were installed approximately 15 years ago, while the current owner acquired them five to six years ago.
The turbines had previously experienced technical issues and were not operational. Significant investment would have been required to restore them, which led to a decision to sell the wind park, Meisters said, adding that an agreement with a potential buyer had been planned for May this year.
The extent of the damages is still being assessed.
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