Energy Safe orders Vestas to take action on turbines with serrated edges at Golden Plains Wind Farm

Energy Safe Victoria has ordered the operator of the Golden Plains Wind Farm to take immediate action to reduce the risk of serrated plastic trailing edges detaching from new turbines in high winds.

Energy Safe CEO Leanne Hughson issued a direction to Vestas Australian Wind Technology Pty Ltd (Vestas) after high-wind events saw parts of serrated edges fall from the blades of newly assembled turbines that were yet to be powered.

No-one was injured and no property was damaged during the incidents.

A wind turbine is designed to ‘auto yaw’ or rotate to face the wind. However, turbines that have been assembled but are yet to be powered do not have the auto yaw capability. If high winds hit the back of the blades instead of the front during this period, there is a risk the serrated edges could detach. The serrated plastic edges reduce the noise a turbine makes.

Under the direction Vestas must take the following actions to minimise safety risks:

• Carry out a full root cause analysis that identifies measures/controls to prevent further serrated trailing edges from coming loose from Vestas-branded turbines
• Significantly reduce the time taken to power newly assembled turbines
• Notify Energy Safe of any serration failure on Vestas-branded wind turbines in Victoria, as the company becomes aware of the issue
• Establish a 400-metre exclusion zone around all assembled Vestas-brand wind turbines that are yet to be powered at the Golden Plains Wind Farm, north-west of Geelong
• Prioritise work on turbines within exclusion zones that encompass roads, properties, and lands accessible to the public
• Consult with the owners of any properties and roads affected by a temporary exclusion zone.

Vestas has been ordered to establish temporary exclusion zones around turbines that have not been powered by Tuesday 18 February 2025.

As of 10 February 2025, there were 26 such turbines and it is expected they will have the auto-yaw capability within the next few weeks.

The direction will remain in place until Energy Safe is satisfied that Vestas has addressed the safety issues.

The direction was issued under section 141(2) of the Electricity Safety Act 1998.

Energy Safe. Always.

Media contact: M: 0477 572 378 I media@energysafe.vic.gov.au