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Wind (onshore)United KingdomEIR-0794

Wind turbine collapses at Pant-y-Wal wind farm near Gilfach Goch

Feb 2022Published 15 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantMechanical
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersMedium confidence
turbine out of service for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hiddenThe maker is named in 12 other entries (being named is not a finding of fault)
Where
Pant-y-Wal wind farm near Gilfach Goch, Wales
Owner
Pennant Walters
Manufacturer
Nordex
What
Wind turbine collapsed, tower snapped 60ft from base
Injuries
None reported

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Nordex, Pennant Walters

What happened

A 337ft (115m) wind turbine at the Pant-y-Wal wind farm near Gilfach Goch, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, collapsed. Nearby residents reported hearing a noise like thunder as the turbine came down. The tower snapped roughly 60ft (18m) from its base, with the tower breaking in two and the blades crushed in the fall. The turbine manufacturer, Nordex, confirmed no persons were injured and that the only damage was to the turbine itself.

Local Nordex specialists and experts from the company's main office, working with the wind farm owner, Pennant Walters, launched an investigation into the cause. Local authorities said they were seeking assurances that appropriate steps had been taken to secure the remote site and reduce risk to the public.

Contributing factors

Not reported. Nordex stated that as yet no reliable statement could be made as to the underlying cause of the collapse, and investigation was ongoing at the time of reporting.

Lessons learned

  1. A wind turbine tower that snaps at 18m height leaves debris that must be contained at once.
  2. After a collapse at a remote site, the owner and manufacturer must secure the area quickly to protect the public.
  3. A joint investigation by the turbine maker and site owner is needed to decide if the fault is isolated or fleet-wide.

More lessons on structural integrity and turbines, electrical protection and isolation, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Turbine model and age
  • Cost of the damage
  • Length of any outage

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

BBC News (bbc.com)

Site page: Pant y wal (status, dates and other incidents)

Published 2026-09-15. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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Chart to reuse with this story: Wind (onshore) incidents in the United Kingdom, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

Wind (onshore) incidents in the United Kingdom: 48 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

Wind turbine fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one. Also: wind turbine blade failures and wind turbine collapses.

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