© 경북소방본부 제공

【브레이크뉴스 영덕】박영재 기자=경북 영덕에서 대형 풍력발전기가 붕괴되는 사고가 발생하면서, 국내 풍력발전 시설의 안전관리와 산지 개발 방식 전반에 대한 점검 필요성이 제기되고 있다.

지난 2일 영덕군의 한 풍력발전단지에서 높이 약 80m에 달하는 풍력발전기가 중간부에서 꺾이며 도로 쪽으로 쓰러졌다. 사고 당시 인근 도로를 지나던 차량이 통화를 위해 잠시 정차하면서 다행히 인명 피해는 발생하지 않았다. 

사고 당시 이 지역의 순간 최대 풍속은 초속 12.4m로 확인됐다. 이는 태풍이나 기상특보 수준이 아닌 일반적인 강풍에 해당한다. 해당 발전단지는 2005년 조성돼 약 20년 가까이 운영돼 온 곳으로, 노후 설비에 대한 안전 점검이 적절히 이뤄졌는지를 두고 의문이 제기된다.

현재 경북지역에는 영덕을 비롯해 영양, 청송, 울진 등 산간지역을 중심으로 다수의 풍력발전단지가 운영 중이거나 추가 건설이 추진되고 있다. 재생에너지 확대 정책에 따라 사업이 빠르게 늘고 있지만, 노후 설비 관리와 안전 점검을 체계적으로 관리하는 제도는 이를 충분히 따라가지 못하고 있다는 지적이 나온다.

이번 사고를 계기로 경북도와 관계 당국이 도내 풍력발전 시설 전반에 대한 안전 점검에 나서야 한다는 지적이다. 특히 10년 이상 운영된 노후 설비에 대해서는 구조 안전 진단을 의무화하고, 문제가 확인될 경우 가동을 중단하는 등 선제적 조치가 필요하다는 지적이 나온다.

한 전문가는 “재생에너지 확대는 중요한 과제이지만, 안전과 환경 보호가 전제되지 않으면 지속 가능성을 담보하기 어렵다”며 “풍력발전 정책 전반에 대한 점검과 관리 기준 강화가 필요하다”고 말했다.

<구글 번역으로 번역한 영문 기사의 전문 입니다. 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 밝힙니다.>

[Break News Yeongdeok] Reporter Park Young-jae = The collapse of a large wind turbine in Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang Province, has raised concerns about the need for an overall review of domestic wind power facility safety management and mountainous development practices.

On the 2nd, an approximately 80-meter-tall wind turbine at a wind farm in Yeongdeok County snapped in the middle and fell onto the road. A vehicle passing by the road at the time of the accident briefly stopped to make a phone call, but no casualties were reported. The moment of collapse was captured on the vehicle's dashcam.

The maximum wind speed in the area at the time of the accident was confirmed to be 12.4 meters per second. This corresponds to typical strong winds, not typhoon or weather warning levels. The farm was built in 2005 and has been in operation for nearly 20 years, raising questions about whether adequate safety inspections were conducted on the aging equipment.

Experts point out the potential structural vulnerabilities of equipment used for a long time. One expert stated, "Generators operated for around 20 years can accumulate metal fatigue, corrosion, and weakened joints." He added, "If installed in mountainous terrain, repeated exposure to external factors like strong winds and lightning increases the risk factor."

Currently, numerous wind farms are in operation or under construction in mountainous areas such as Yeongdeok, Yeongyang, Cheongsong, and Uljin in North Gyeongsang Province. While projects are rapidly expanding due to policies to expand renewable energy, there are concerns that the system for managing aging facilities and conducting safety inspections is not keeping pace.

Environmental damage is also a concern. Installing a single wind turbine requires constructing an access road to the summit and conducting extensive foundation work. Residents and environmental groups have raised concerns that this process could damage forests, increasing the risk of soil runoff and landslides during heavy rains.

Last summer, a case occurred near a wind farm in Cheongsong County, where soil was lost after heavy rains, deteriorating water quality in a valley. Environmental groups point out that soil erosion and ecosystem disruption due to deforestation are accumulating.

Conflicts with residents are also ongoing. In some areas, residents have voiced opposition, citing low-frequency noise, landscape damage, and a deteriorating living environment. However, some argue that the project was pushed forward without sufficient consultation. A resident of Uljin County said, "Since the installation of the wind turbines, the noise has persisted day and night," adding, "There is a lack of investigations and countermeasures for the impact on our daily lives."

This accident has led to growing calls for North Gyeongsang Province and related authorities to conduct safety inspections of all wind power facilities in the province. In particular, they argue that preemptive measures are needed, such as mandating structural safety assessments for older facilities operated for more than 10 years and suspending operations if problems are identified.

Experts emphasized, "While expanding renewable energy is an important task, sustainability cannot be guaranteed without prioritizing safety and environmental protection. Strengthening inspection and management standards for wind power generation policies is necessary."