{"id":300198,"date":"2021-06-03T13:12:57","date_gmt":"2021-06-03T03:12:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=300198"},"modified":"2021-06-07T13:12:54","modified_gmt":"2021-06-07T03:12:54","slug":"explosives-bring-down-faulty-tower","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2021\/06\/03\/explosives-bring-down-faulty-tower\/","title":{"rendered":"Explosives Bring Down Faulty Tower"},"content":{"rendered":"
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One of the 123 turbine towers at the Coopers Gap wind farm was demolished in a controlled explosion last week
(Photo: PARF)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

June 3, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

GE CATCON has confirmed a controlled explosion was used to demolish a faulty turbine tower at the Coopers Gap wind farm last week.<\/p>\n

“A controlled demolition was the option that offered the best chance of success and minimised both the safety risk and disruption to the community,” a company spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

southburnett.com.au<\/strong> reported last November that one of the 123 turbines at the wind farm would have to be removed and replaced after faults were discovered during the commissioning process.<\/p>\n

The faults were located during routine inspections and testing by GE CATCON prior to the official handover to the Powering Australian Renewables Fund (PARF).<\/p>\n

The faulty turbine was taken out of service while the rest of the wind farm remained operational.<\/p>\n

An exclusion zone was erected around the tower at the time to ensure safety on site.<\/p>\n

An AGL spokesperson told southburnett.com.au<\/strong> the turbine was “successfully deconstructed” last Thursday by a\u00a0team from GE CATCON.<\/p>\n

“The deconstruction had no impact on the generation of Coopers Gap wind farm,” the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

The turbine which has been demolished will be replaced with a new unit.<\/p>\n

During the commissioning process last year, a fault was also identified with generators inside the nacelles of about 50 of the towers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

These towers are generating power but GE has concerns about their long-term operational life.<\/p>\n

These components will be gradually replaced.<\/p>\n

GE CATCON was appointed by PARF in 2018 to construct the 123 wind turbines at Coopers Gap.<\/p>\n

PARF is a joint funding venture between AGL and several partners.<\/p>\n