Capstone Infrastructure is investigating after a maintenance crew discovered a Vestas turbine was leaning slightly to one side at the 5.1MW Ferndale wind farm in Ontario.
The developer has shut down the 1.8MW V80 turbine, which was erected in 2002. Two other turbines are not affected and continue to operate normally, said Capstone senior VP Aaron Boles.
“The turbine in question poses no danger to people or property in the vicinity,” said Boles.
Crews have tethered and shimmed the 115-metre turbine while company officials and Vestas engineers work to resolve the problem.
“We are working through a number of possible causes and potential solutions,” said Boles. It’s not known how long the turbine will remain offline.
“The safety of the community and those working at the site will remain the priority throughout this process,” said Boles.
The electricity generated by Ferndale is sold to the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator under renewable energy standard offer program (RESOP) contracts.
Capstone acquired the Ferndale project in 2013 when it bought Renewable Energy Developers.
Image: Vestas
