Sunita SomvanshiA wind turbine blade at NSW’s newly operational Flyers Creek Wind Farm has bent in half after repeated storm damage, shutting down more than a dozen wind turbines just months after the 145 MW facility began operations.
The blade initially suffered damage during late June storms, with weather data from Orange Airport showing 21mm rainfall on June 24 and wind speeds reaching 69 km/h on June 25. The damaged turbine was immediately removed from service with an exclusion zone established.
On September 10, electrical power loss combined with strong winds caused further damage. That day recorded 17.2mm rain with maximum wind speeds of 65 km/h.
“There is currently visible damage to one of the turbine blades at Flyers Creek Wind Farm,” Iberdrola Australia stated. “The wind turbine blade initially suffered damage during a storm in late June and since that time it had been removed from service, with an exclusion zone established.”
The Flyers Creek facility comprises 38 wind turbines, each with 3.8 MW capacity manufactured by GE Vernova, located 20 kilometers south of Orange. The facility generates electricity equivalent to powering 80,000 households.
More than a dozen turbines remain temporarily shut down following the September incident. “A replacement blade has been ordered, and we are working with our operations and maintenance contractor to determine an appropriate return to service plan,” the company confirmed.
GE Vernova acknowledged: “A recent weather event caused additional damage to a turbine blade that had already been taken out of service following a previous storm.”
According to the Flyers Creek Emergency Response Plan, winds exceeding 72 km/h trigger emergency protocols. Weather records show four days in 2025 have reached this threshold at Orange Airport.
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“Iberdrola Australia conducts scheduled and unscheduled inspections covering components from blades and nacelle to tower and foundation,” the company stated. When questioned about remaining turbines, Iberdrola said they “do not have any concerns” regarding other blades.
The company anticipates replacing all three blades on the impacted turbine. Exclusion zones remain for workers and livestock.
Wind turbine blades typically operate for 20-25 years, making this failure notable given the facility became fully operational in early 2025. Global data shows approximately 0.54 percent annual blade failure rates worldwide.
Australia has experienced similar incidents recently. In 2020, Dundonnell Wind Farm dropped a 73-meter blade due to loose bolts. In 2022, Alinta Wind Farm temporarily shut down after a turbine collapse.
Associate Professor Amin Heidarpour from Monash University noted wind turbines are “infrastructure assets in the renewable energy sector” and failures “may disrupt efficient functionality.”
The damaged turbine remains out of service while blade replacement procedures continue. The incident occurs as Australia works toward 82 percent renewable electricity generation by 2030, requiring installation of 40 new turbines monthly.
The investigation continues into factors causing the blade’s failure just months after commercial operations began, particularly the interaction between electrical system failures and mechanical stress during storm conditions.
