Fire at Mailiao wind farm turbine in Yunlin County prompts nationwide inspections

A wind turbine at the Mailiao wind farm, operated by Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower), caught fire in Mailiao Township, Yunlin County, on a Sunday in mid-2026. The 70 metre high turbine, which began commercial operation in 2010 and had been in service for nearly 16 years, was engulfed by fire suspected to have been caused by overheated components, though the exact cause remained under investigation. The incident prompted the premier to order a nationwide inspection of all wind turbines that have been in operation for more than 15 years and to enhance high altitude firefighting capabilities. Taipower was instructed to complete inspections of 76 turbines of the same type within one month, while the Energy Administration was given three months to propose improvements to maintenance, management and operational requirements based on the findings.

The fire is suspected to have been caused by overheated components, though the exact cause remained under investigation at the time of reporting; the turbine's age, at nearly 16 years of service, was noted as a factor prompting the wider review.

1. Ageing wind turbine fleets beyond 15 years of operation may warrant enhanced inspection regimes to catch component degradation before it leads to fire.
2. Overheating of components is a recognised fire risk in wind turbines and should be a focus of preventive maintenance and monitoring.
3. High altitude firefighting capability is a limiting factor in responding to nacelle and tower fires, and should be developed in parallel with wind fleet growth.
4. A single incident can trigger a broader fleet-wide review; operators should proactively track turbine age and component condition rather than waiting for a regulatory mandate.

focustaiwan.tw/politics/202606030009