An Irish wind farm has been closed down after a turbine collapsed on Friday night near Co Tyrone in Ireland.

 

The 80 metre structure worth about £2 million, which was one of eight on the site, collapsed at Screggah wind farm sending debris over the surrounding mountainside.

 

Whilst no-one was injured, the owners of the wind farm have said the site will not reopen until the cause of the collapse is found.

 

Doreen Walker, director of the operation, said officials were "working closely" with turbine supplier Nordex UK to establish the cause of the collapse.

 

She said: "The Screggagh wind farm has been completely shut down since the wind turbine collapsed on Friday evening.

 

"It will remain shut down until Nordex UK Ltd has completed a full investigation in to the remaining seven wind turbines and confirms that they are safe to operate."

 

It is reported the sound of the structure collapsing could be heard up to seven miles away as the rotor blades reportedly spun out of control sending it crashing to the ground. Parts of the turbine, which had an overall base to tip height of 100 metres, can be seen embedded into the ground around the site. 

 

Ms Walker added: 

"All of the debris from the collapsed wind turbine was contained within the wind farm site. No debris went on to the public road or neighbouring/adjoining land holdings."

 

The company said its emergency procedures had worked well.

 

"We are however satisfied that the site's precautionary health and safety alert processes worked well with local emergency services in attendance within minutes of the incident taking place," Ms Walker said.

 

The windfarm development generates approximately 50,000,000kW hours a year- enough renewable energy to power almost 11,927 homes on an annual basis through its eight Nordex N80 units.