– I can see that service was done on April 20. It was only three weeks ago, he tells TT.
The wind power plant in question is now 21 years old.
– I guess we had a hope – before it burned down – to carry on much longer with the right maintenance.
Close to retirement age
However, according to the Energy Agency’s way of calculating, the burned-out spinning wheel in Ystad is approaching retirement age.
– When we make the scenario, we assume a 25-year lifespan, says Fredrik Svartengren, head of the electricity production and society unit at the Swedish Energy Agency, who adds that lifespan is fundamentally an economic issue.
Apply for new permits
Many places are now facing a generational change, as many wind turbines, according to the authority, will soon need to be replaced.
– There are a lot of places where wind power was built early on and where it is starting to approach a repower, that you need to replace old works with new ones, he says and continues:
– If you are going to replace the works, you will also need a new permit and a new municipal approval. Just because you once had it is no guarantee of a new one.
TT: Can older wind turbines pose a safety risk?
– It is clear that older things need control and maintenance. The business operator has a responsibility for self-control of his work.
Javascript must be enabled to play video
