Wind turbine collapses in western Victoria after storms raise safety concerns

A wind turbine at the Berrybank Wind Farm in western Victoria collapsed on Tuesday morning after storms hit the area. The turbine, only two years old, was expected to last 30 years and withstand winds of at least 108 kilometers per hour. Structural engineer Amin Heidarpour stated that the failure likely occurred in the blades. An investigation is underway to determine the cause, with initial reports suggesting a possible lightning strike. The remaining turbines at the site have been temporarily paused. The Clean Energy Council noted that such collapses are rare, and there were no injuries reported. Calls for a state-wide safety audit of wind farms are being debated, pending the investigation's findings.