CO2 Leak at Hai Long Onshore Substation Hospitalises 17 On-Site Workers

August 21, 2024, by Adrijana Buljan

Seventeen people working on the Hai Long Changhua onshore substation, part of the Hai Long offshore wind project in Taiwan, were hospitalised on 20 August after a carbon dioxide leak at the substation.

First reported by Taiwanese media citing information provided by Changhua County Fire Department, the incident is said to have left 14 on-site workers injured and three critically, with the initial assessment into the cause showing CO2 leaked from the fire suppression equipment at the onshore substation.

Northland Power, one of the three Hai Long consortium partners, issued a statement on the evening of 20 August, confirming that the incident occurred at approximately 10:00 AM local time. The company noted that an investigation into the details surrounding the incident was underway but that the preliminary information available cited a leak of carbon dioxide from the fire suppression system.

“In alignment with established emergency response protocols, emergency services were immediately notified, and first aid measures were promptly administered on-site. The affected individuals were quickly transported to nearby hospitals, where they are currently receiving emergency treatment”, Northland Power stated.

The developer also said that all work at the onshore substation was suspended until further notice while investigations are ongoing.

“The safety and well-being of our employees and partners remain our top priority”, said John Brace, Executive Chair. “Our current focus is on the well-being of the affected workers and their families. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as more information becomes available.”

The offshore site of the 1,022 MW Hai Long wind farm is located approximately 45-70 kilometres off the Changhua coast in the Taiwan Strait, where construction is currently well underway.

The offshore wind farm will have 73 Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 DD wind turbines, installed on three-legged jacket foundations, and is expected to be commissioned in 2025/2026.

Hai Long is owned and developed by Hai Long Offshore Wind, a consortium comprising Northland Power, Mitsui & Co., and Gentari.