30-Metre Wind Turbine Collapses in Přerov Region After Weeks Standing Idle Due to Fault

A wind turbine roughly 30 metres tall has collapsed in the Přerov region, crashing onto a field near the village of Lipná. Firefighters were called to the scene, and police are now investigating the circumstances of the incident.

According to information published by police on social network X, the turbine had been out of operation since early July due to damage to one of the rods controlling the blades. Because of the fault, the blades could not be folded and remained exposed — and it is believed that strong gusts of wind ultimately brought the entire structure down.

Mast snapped, turbine smashed

René Passinger, mayor of the neighbouring town of Potštát, posted photos from the scene on Facebook. The images show the turbine's mast completely toppled, with the turbine itself and its blades shattered after hitting the ground.

The fallen turbine was part of the Lipná wind farm, named after the nearby village, which consists of four masts fitted with turbines. It was one of the oldest wind power installations in Czechia, having operated since April 2008.

"This is an anomaly"

Michal Janeček, chairman of the Czech Wind Energy Association, told the Czech news agency ČTK that no wind turbine had ever collapsed in the country before. "This is an anomaly," he said, commenting on the incident.

Mayor Passinger said the town council would demand that the operator carry out an immediate safety inspection of the remaining turbines at the wind farm. "After such a serious incident, a thorough professional inspection is simply a given requirement," he stressed.

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Source: novinky.cz