Controlled Demolition Inc. (CDI), Phoenix, Maryland, imploded 21 wind turbines on a wind farm in West Central Texas on Aug. 25-27.
According to CDI, Central Surplus served as the general contractor and the main demolition contractor on the job.
Central Surplus originally contacted CDI in July 2021 to assist them with the fast-track felling of the 3-megawatt turbines, which were being retired and decommissioned.
Upon notice to proceed, CDI immediately began to fabricate the specialty explosives needed to match the shell thickness and radius of these units. Once the wind farm owner deenergized the units and oils were completely removed, CDI mobilized to the site and worked with Central Surplus to prepare the individual units while considering their 345-foot hub height in conjunction with the forecasted wind speed and direction.
According to the company, its felling crew worked quickly “to take advantage of favorable winds for felling specific units throughout the wind farm.”
CDI laid out and monitored preparations for a week before mobilizing its explosives crew to fell all 21 units over a 2-day period.
Following the successful implosions, Central Surplus was tasked with removing debris from the felled structures while working to recycle as much material as possible so that the site could be returned to the wind farm owner.
Watch video of the implosion below, courtesy of CDI:
