Blade falls from massive wind turbine in Carmarthenshire forest earmarked for more development
A large section of Brechfa Forest has been closed to the public after a blade detached from one of its wind turbines.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW), which manages the 6,500-hectare site near Abergorlech, confirmed it had shut off access to the area around the Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm as a safety precaution. Images shared on social media by local resident Ben Plummer show a turbine standing with only two of its three blades remaining — the third gone entirely.
The operator of the wind farm, RWE, is now investigating how the blade became detached. It is not the first time a wind turbine in the county has prompted an emergency response — firefighters were previously called to a turbine blaze in Carmarthenshire.
In a statement, NRW said:
“Natural Resources Wales has temporarily closed access to parts of the forest around Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm as a safety precaution while the operator, RWE, investigates the cause of a blade detachment at one of the turbines. Ensuring appropriate measures are in place to keep visitors safe is our priority, and the closure will remain in place until it is confirmed that the area can be safely reopened.”
The damaged wind turbine in Brechfa Forest, missing one of its blades. Image: Ben Plummer / Facebook
The incident comes as energy companies continue to eye Carmarthenshire’s uplands for further wind energy development. Communities across the region have already been fighting back against a wave of energy park and pylon plans, while plans for a giant wind farm near Port Talbot were refused last year after landscape concerns.
The incident comes as energy companies continue to eye Carmarthenshire’s uplands for further wind energy development — a prospect that has already drawn significant opposition from local communities and campaign groups.
NRW has confirmed that public rights of way across the forest are not affected by the closure, though its managed walking trails and the Raven, Derwen and Gorlech mountain biking routes are currently diverted.
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