Wind turbine blade snaps at Lal Lal Wind Farm south of Ballarat
May 2026Published 7 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
- Where
- Lal Lal Wind Farm off Yendon-Egerton Road south of Ballarat, Victoria
- What
- Blade snapped on V136-3.8 MV turbine over 160 metres tall
- Injuries
- None reported
- Cause
- Under investigation
- Outcome
- Exclusion zone established and WorkSafe attended
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What happened
On the morning of 15 May 2026, a blade snapped on a wind turbine over 160 metres tall at the Lal Lal Wind Farm, located off Yendon-Egerton Road south of Ballarat, Victoria. Nearby residents reported hearing loud noises as the blade broke and was left hanging precariously from the turbine. The wind farm operator confirmed the failure occurred on a V136-3.8 MV model turbine. Site staff responded immediately, securing the area and establishing an exclusion zone.
No injuries were reported and the operator stated there was no risk to the public. WorkSafe inspectors attended the site and were making inquiries to determine whether further regulatory action is required. The cause of the blade failure was under investigation at the time of reporting. The wind farm, spanning 2100 hectares and comprising 60 turbines, has been fully operational since 2020.
Contributing factors
Not reported; the cause of the blade failure was under investigation at the time of publication.
Lessons learned
- A snapped blade on a V136-3.8 MV turbine can hang and create falling debris risk, so operators must set an exclusion zone at once.
- After a blade failure on a turbine over 160 metres tall, site staff need plans for immediate area security and public safety checks.
More lessons on structural integrity and turbines, theft, arson and site security, from every incident on the register.
Not yet known
- Cause of the blade failure
- Turbine age and maintenance history
- Downtime and repair cost
This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.
Source
Published 2026-09-07. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
