A number of people have asked what is happening to the turbine: it doesn’t seem to have been turning for a while, and given that it’s generated over £1.25 million pounds for our community so far, it’s important that it does!

In the spring, at our bi-annual maintenance visit, the bearings in the generator were deemed noisy, implying an impending failure.  In April, we pro-actively instructed our maintenance company to exchange the existing generator for a reconditioned one.

That work took place on the 29th and 30th May.

On the 2nd June the high-speed shaft that connects the turbine gearbox to the generator suffered a major failure.

Our insurers want to be sure who is responsible for the failure.  It could be an act of God, or bad workmanship.  Our insurance company instructed a forensic engineer to report on the breakdown.  Two weeks ago he visited the site.  Our insurers are still waiting for his report.

We are currently working with our insurers, our maintenance partner and our advisors to ascertain who will be paying for the repair.  Our insurance has a business interruption clause which should mean that our lost revenue will get paid.

Whilst it is frustrating that it is taking so long to resolve, the delays stem from the need to get this right on mechanical, insurance and contractual levels.