![Artist's impression [credit: ScottishPower Renewables]](https://tallbloke.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/kilgall.jpg)
Artist’s impression [credit: ScottishPower Renewables]
Ouch – embarrassing for the builders and a hefty bill for somebody. No reports of any injuries.
A wind turbine has collapsed in the south-west of Scotland, BBC Scotland understands.
The incident happened at Kilgallioch wind farm, which straddles the border between Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire, early last Friday.
An investigation has been launched by developer Scottish Power Renewables and turbine manufacturer Gamesa.
The 96-turbine site is currently under construction and due to be fully connected to the grid later this year. A spokeswoman for Scottish Power Renewables said: “We are currently investigating an incident relating to an installed turbine at Kilgallioch wind farm during the early hours of Friday 13 January. The turbine was not yet operational and no one was in the vicinity at the time.”
Spanish firm Gamesa confirmed that they were also involved in the investigation. A spokeswoman said: “We are currently investigating – jointly with the owner of the wind farm – the root cause of this incident.”
Scottish Power Renewables has previously said Kilgallioch wind farm would be the second largest in the UK once completed. It said it could meet the energy needs of 130,000 homes.
Source: Kilgallioch wind farm turbine incident under investigation – BBC News
Tallbloke's Talkshop 
reNews reports the incident
Note the pre-emptive excuse
http://renews.biz/105629/kilgallioch-turbine-collapses/
Wow, 130,000 homes.
The blade diameter of the 2.5 MW turbine is 114 metres. One of these beasts toppling over is a big deal, both in money terms and impact. It’s a £300 million project with 55 km. of service roads (tracks) across a 32 kilometre-square construction site.
Of course they could build a gas-fired power station on a far smaller site – somewhere near ‘130,000 homes’ even – for less money to give the same output at any time it was wanted, but…hey-ho.
I would face prosecution by the HSE if I failed to report the dropping of say 30 kg by 30 mm if it was caused by the failure of lifting equipment. Such reporting requirements are specified by RIDDOR – Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. However, the dropping of over 100 tonnes from say 60 m as happened at Kilgallioch and at Screggagh are not “Dangerous Occurrences” under RIDDOR!!!
AC, that figure assumes that they use gas for heating and cooking. This ‘homes’ figure is a mythical beast because everyone’s usage is different and does not take into account the number of people and their ages living in that home.
Its naïve to compare with gas stations, because they only work when the gas is flowing. Wind is available every time the sun is shining and solar when the wind is blowing.
youse skeptics need to wise up.
[reply] of course 😎
£2 million worth of junk…
The Ayrshire Post’s source says the 328-foot tower “creased” at the access door at ground level.
The three blades and switchgear were all smashed on impact.
And he added: “Debris was spread over half a kilometre and a crane has been brought in to try and clear the damage.
“The company was trying to keep things hush-hush and were not keen to say anything.
“The site is so large and unseen from public roads that the only way to see the collapse is from the air.
“Local people want the alarm raised as they feel things are going on unreported.”
http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/01/29/safety-probe-launched-after-collapse-of-480-foot-wind-turbine-in-ayrshire/
‘Component liberation’ is AWEA’s euphemism for turbine collapse.
Red Queen…
There goes another one – Ireland this time.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-38845082
STT provides a range of pics of turbines collapsing and blades flying off. Don’t get too close 😦
Scottish Wind Power Company Attempts to Cover Up Turbine Collapse [the one in our post above]
February 25, 2017 by stopthesethings
Now that those who are forced to travel past, live with and work near these things know how rare it is for 10 tonne blades to be thrown to the 4 winds; how rare it is for 60 tonne rotors to drop 90m from the heavens; and how rare it is for 160m high, 290 tonne turbines to plummet to Earth, we expect you feel a whole lot safer. No?
Welcome to your wind powered future.
Kansas, 2014…
Fatal accident at Kilgallioch
Police, HSE investigating following death of 37-year-old contractor
A 37-year-old Gamesa contractor has died following an accident during construction at ScottishPower’s 239MW Kilgallioch wind farm in southwest Scotland.
Police Scotland were called to the project site near Barrhill at 18.45 on Wednesday, 15 March. Emergency services also attended but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
. . .
The contractor fell inside a turbine tower, it is understood.
http://renews.biz/106317/fatal-accident-at-kilgallioch/