Vestas turbine collapse in Sweden triggers global shutdown of 150 units
EIR-0804Provisional entry. Published from first reports. This entry is rechecked automatically and updated when more sources appear. Next update: 17 September 2026.
A Vestas V150-4.2MW wind turbine collapsed at the 72MW Aldermyrberget project in Sweden in November 2020. An investigation found that a blade had come loose from the turbine, destabilising the unit and causing it to collapse. Vestas subsequently identified a bonding failure on blade root inserts on certain V150 blades, which it attributed to contamination of the inserts stemming from a manufacturing process step at one supplier. As a precaution, Vestas paused around 150 V150-4.0/4.2/4.3MW (Mk3E) turbines worldwide that had one or more blades with the same blade root insert configuration as the detached blade. In early January 2021 a blade also fell in Finland while being de-installed because it had the same inserts; Vestas said it did not perceive the two incidents as directly related because this did not occur during operation or idling, and said it had begun an investigation. The company said all other Vestas turbines, including V150 units with different blade root insert configurations, were considered fully safe to operate, and that it was working on repair or replacement options to return the paused turbines to service. Vestas said the Aldermyrberget blade loss was not related to blade incidents at the Valhalla project in Sweden, Dundonnell in Australia or Timber Road 4 in the US, nor to a separate high intensity lightning issue. It declined to give a cost estimate.
Bonding failure on blade root inserts caused by contamination of the inserts stemming from a manufacturing process step at one supplier, according to Vestas's investigation.
- Manufacturing quality control for blade root inserts is critical, as contamination at a single process step can affect many units across a global fleet.
- Where a failure signature is identified, pausing or inspecting all assets sharing that component configuration limits exposure while the investigation continues.
- Blade incidents during installation or de-installation involving the same component configuration should be investigated for possible links, even though loads differ from those in normal operation.
Published 2026-09-15. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.