Taipei: Premier Cho Jung-tai announced that the government will conduct inspections of all wind turbines that have been operational for more than 15 years across the nation and will work on improving high-altitude firefighting capabilities. This decision follows a recent fire at a wind turbine operated by Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) in Yunlin County.

According to Focus Taiwan, the fire that consumed the 70-meter-high turbine in Mailiao Township is believed to have been caused by overheated components, though the exact cause is still under investigation. The turbine, which began commercial operations in 2010, had been in service for nearly 16 years. The incident has led the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) to initiate a comprehensive review of wind turbines that have been operating for over 15 years.

Premier Cho emphasized the importance of enhancing Taiwan’s high-altitude firefighting capabilities to ensure the sustainable growth of the renewable energy sector and to provide assurance to communities residing near wind turbines.

In a related development, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Lai Chien-hsin reported to the Legislative Yuan’s Economics Committee that Minister Kung Ming-hsin had already mandated a broad review of aging wind turbines following the incident. Taipower has been tasked with inspecting 76 turbines of the same model within a month. Additionally, the Energy Administration has a three-month deadline to recommend improvements in maintenance, management, and operational procedures based on the review findings.