Wind energy has become the dominant renewable energy source in Australia. Many of these farms are situated near coastal environments and at altitudes that are constantly saturated. This wet environment often causes corrosion issues with the foundation bolts, posing a significant risk to the tower’s integrity. Foundation bolts are the only component of the system that cannot be changed out over the life of a wind tower, so their integrity limits the safe operating life of the wind turbine. A major wind farm discovered alarming levels of corrosion of foundation bolting, located just below the concrete to flange interface of a tower’s base.

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