UNEXPLAINED damage to a wind turbine at Mid Wales’ largest windfarm has led to it being shut down for over a month.
Scottish Power Renewables (SPR) says it is currently investigating the incident which took place at Llandinam Windfarm in ‘early December’.
There is no explanation as yet about what caused the damage as SPR awaits the conclusions of its investigation.
The incident has also meant that the windfarm has effectively been ‘switched off’ while the other turbines on the site are checked.
Mike Brennan, who noticed the damage while out walking on December 27 last year, said that the incident had raised a number of questions that needed to be answered.
“There are three concerns,” he said. “One is the safety of people using the bridlepaths, two the safety precautions if they put in bigger turbines and three what are the safety precautions at other sites throughout Mid Wales?”
Mr Brennan also questioned why it had taken so long for the news to be made public and if it was safe for people to use the bridlepath at the windfarm.
He said: “I am surprised there has not been any statement about it.
“I ride a horse and often go up through there and the bridlepath goes very close to some of those turbines.
“You are almost underneath them.
“The question is even if they turn them off are they still safe?”
Llandinam Windfarm, also known as P and L Windfarm has been operational since 1993 and is home to more than 100 turbines.
The turbines were built with an expected lifespan of 25 years, meaning that the damaged turbine has been affected within that timescale.
A SPR spokesman said: “Work is currently under way at Llandinam Windfarm to investigate damage to a wind turbine that occurred in early December.
“The site is currently offline while investigations are completed, with turbines expected to return to service shortly,” said the spokesman.