A wind turbine fire occurred at Ørsted’s Greater Changhua 4 offshore wind farm in Taiwan on 8 August, following an automatic shutdown triggered by the turbine’s system detecting an abnormal condition.
Ørsted reported that the fire was spotted shortly after the automatic shutdown and was extinguished promptly. No injuries occurred, and authorities and stakeholders were informed.
The turbine affected was deactivated and disconnected from the transmission system due to safety measures. It remains non-operational with a safety exclusion zone enforced around it, while the rest of the wind farm continues normal operations.
Investigations are underway with Siemens Gamesa, which supplied 66 SG 14-236 DD wind turbines for Greater Changhua 2b & 4. An investigation and repair plan has been prepared, but the incident’s root cause is still unknown as of 21 August.
Ørsted highlighted that the turbine’s safety systems are designed to detect abnormalities and stop automatically, ensuring the wider wind farm is unaffected.
“Offshore wind farms have multiple safety protection layers. When equipment detects an abnormal condition, it can be stopped and isolated immediately, preventing impact on other turbines,” Ørsted stated.
Taiwan’s Energy Administration confirmed that Ørsted reported the incident at 07:00 on 8 August. The damage was confined to the turbine with no injuries, and Ørsted has been tasked with identifying the cause and making necessary repairs.
Ørsted is in dialogue with authorities and stakeholders to ensure safety and minimize environmental impact during the investigation. Turbine installation on Greater Changhua 2b & 4 was completed in January.
By May, all inter-array cables were installed and energized, with all 42 turbines connected to Taipower’s grid and generating electricity. Full operational capacity is expected in the third quarter of 2026, supplying electricity to TSMC under a 2020 corporate power purchase agreement.
Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz