CHANGWON — South Gyeongsang Province is launching safety inspections of every onshore wind power complex in the province, where turbines more than 10 years old now account for 76% of the total. The move follows a fire at a wind farm in February.
The province said on the 14th that it will conduct joint safety inspections of onshore wind power complexes in the region through the 30th to prevent fires and strengthen safety management at wind power facilities. Joint inspection teams made up of city and county officials, the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation and fire stations will examine every complex in operation.
Seven complexes with 48 turbines, or 97 megawatts of capacity, are currently operating across three cities and counties in the province. Yangsan has the most with five sites and 16 turbines totaling 64 megawatts, followed by one site with 25 turbines totaling 18.8 megawatts in Uiryeong County and one site with seven turbines totaling 14 megawatts in Geochang County.
The inspections will check for subsidence and cracks in tower foundations, the tightening of anchor bolts, noise and vibration in blades and nacelles, insulation in switchgear and distribution panels, the installation of high-voltage warning signs and damage to perimeter fences. The teams will also review fire and safety management systems, including the appointment of electrical safety managers, inspection records and emergency contact networks.
Minor issues will be corrected on site immediately, while serious hazards will be addressed through corrective action, repairs and restoration under relevant laws, the province said. It also plans to overhaul fire response manuals and emergency response systems for each complex so that recovery operations can be activated quickly with fire stations and other agencies in an emergency.
"The aging of wind power facilities and fire incidents have made safety management increasingly important," said Kwon Dae-hyuk, director of the province's energy industry division. "We will do our utmost to protect the lives and property of residents through thorough inspections of all facilities and a stronger prevention system."