Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) says that a recent fire that engulfed a wind turbine in Yunlin County was caused by aging equipment and that the Economy Ministry has begun an inventory of wind turbines in use for over 15 years across Taiwan. That came during a meeting with a student team representing Taiwan at the 2026 World KidWind Challenge on Wednesday, June 3.

Cho said he had instructed the Economy Ministry to conduct a comprehensive inspection of all wind turbines in operation for over 15 years and to explore the possibility of replacing older units to improve efficiency. The turbine which caught fire on Sunday, May 31, in Yunlin had been used for 16 years. Firefighters reportedly struggled to put out the fire due to the turbine’s height.

Cho added that the incident highlights the importance of high-altitude firefighting capabilities and that they are currently insufficient. He said it was essential to strengthen them to ensure the sustainable development of wind power in Taiwan and reassure nearby residents.