Aging turbine collapses at Jaunmiki wind park in Latvia

On 26 April 2026, one of five wind turbines at the Jaunmiki wind park in Bunkas parish, Latvia, collapsed. The wind park is operated and owned by SIA Jaunmiki. The turbine, manufactured in the 1990s, had not produced electricity for three years due to unresolved technical issues. The grid operator first reported a power outage in the area at around 8am, and by midday SIA Jaunmiki confirmed a turbine had fallen. Power supply to the site was cut immediately and cleanup began the same day. The owner said the turbine most likely collapsed due to strong winds and that there were no suspicions of foul play, though the exact cause remains under investigation. Following the incident, Latvia's Climate and Energy Minister ordered urgent inspections of all older wind turbines nationwide, particularly those no longer generating electricity.

The turbine was manufactured in the 1990s and had been non-operational for three years due to technical faults that would have required significant investment to fix. Strong winds are suspected as a contributing cause of the collapse. SIA Jaunmiki had reportedly been planning to sell the wind park rather than repair it, with a sale agreement anticipated for May.

1. Turbines that are no longer generating power still pose a structural risk and require ongoing inspection and maintenance rather than being left idle.
2. Operators and regulators should establish clear criteria for when aging or long-idle turbines must be repaired, decommissioned or dismantled rather than left standing indefinitely.
3. Regulatory bodies should consider mandatory periodic structural inspections for wind assets nearing or exceeding their original design life, especially where known technical faults exist.

bnn-news.com/latvia-to-urgently-inspect-old-wind-turbines-after-accid...