Wind Turbine Fire in Mailiao, Yunlin; Ministry of Economic Affairs Orders Stricter Inspections

TAIPEI (CNA) - A wind turbine at Taipower's Mailiao wind farm in Yunlin caught fire at noon today. The Ministry of Economic Affairs' Energy Administration stated that Taipower initiated emergency response procedures, the fire at the scene has been brought under control, and as of 7:10 PM, there were no remaining flames. The fire department has withdrawn, and the administration will require all power companies to strengthen equipment operation management and inspection work for similar types of wind turbines and those that have reached a certain service life. Taipower's Mailiao wind farm turbine No. 17 suddenly caught fire around 12:00 PM today. Yunlin County firefighters immediately rushed to the scene to stand by. Taipower stated earlier that it was suspected to be caused by overheating and burning of parts, and after receiving the report, they immediately dispatched personnel to investigate and disconnected the relevant electrical equipment. The Energy Administration stated in a press release in the evening that the wind turbine No. 17 in Mailiao, Yunlin, which caught fire this time, belongs to a wind farm that began commercial operation on May 27, 2010. The wind turbine uses a Vestas model with a single-unit capacity of 2MW. The Energy Administration stated that after the accident, Taipower immediately launched emergency response measures. The fire at the scene has been controlled, and by 7:10 PM, there were no flames, and the firefighters had completed relevant work and withdrawn. Regarding the cause of the fire, the Energy Administration pointed out that Taipower will work with relevant experts to conduct an in-depth investigation and fully clarify the cause of the accident. The Energy Administration emphasized that in order to strengthen the disaster response capabilities of onshore wind power plants, it will require all power companies to strengthen equipment operation management and inspection work for similar types of wind turbines and those that have reached a certain service life, and to strictly follow relevant regulations such as the "Electric Utility Accident Reporting Procedure Standards" to carry out accident reporting and response measures to ensure the safety of renewable energy power generation facilities and power supply.