Cracks in foundation led to wind turbine's collapse, 49 others also at risk

An investigation into what caused the collapse of a wind turbine at New Brunswick's largest wind farm has revealed serious structural issues that affect not only the turbine that fell, but dozens of others in the area as well.

According toTransAlta RenewablesInc., the Alberta-based company that owns and operates the Kent Hillswind farm,the cracks formed because of "deficiencies in the original design of the foundations."

This caused a 100-metre-tall turbineto collapse in the fall of 2021. Now the company plans to replace the foundations of 50 wind turbines in sections 1 and 2 of the windfarm about 55 kilometres southwest of Moncton.

"The root cause failure analysis indicates that deficiencies in the original design of the foundations have caused crack propagation within the foundations and that the foundations must be replaced," TransAlta Renewablessaid in a news release Wednesday.

The company expects the workto cost between $75 and $100 million.

Wind turbines in the third section of the 167-megawatt wind farm and in other farms owned by TransAlta Renewables are not affected, the release said.

The company said its Kent Hills wind turbines will remain offline until foundations are replaced, a process it expects will take until the end of 2023.

The wind farm operates on Crown land near Prosser Brook. The area, including ATV and snowmobile trails,was closed following the collapse of the windturbinein the fall.