Warradarge Wind Farm: Vestas quarantines equipment amid widening asbestos worries but workers believed safe

A big Mid West wind farm backed by the State Government has become embroiled in widening concerns about asbestos contamination. The West Australian understands components to be used for the expansion of Warradarge Wind Farm — a $400 million project partly funded by taxpayer-owned Synergy — were believed to contain asbestos and have been quarantined. But it’s understood the affected parts had not yet been unwrapped and there’s no threat to the workforce or community. The revelation follows reports that three major wind contractors found the notorious, cancer-causing material in brake pads used in internal lifts within wind turbine towers. Those companies were Goldwind, Beijing Jingeng Energy International, and Vestas — the Danish manufacturer picked to build Warradarge Stage 2. Asbestos was banned in Australia decades ago due to its role in causing cancer, mesothelioma. Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has instructed Synergy to undertake an asbestos audit across its wind farms. “I have requested Synergy undertake a comprehensive program of audit and inspection of existing Synergy and Bright Energy Investment wind generation assets to ensure there are no risks presented by the presence of asbestos in existing assets,” she told The West Australian. Nationals leader Shane Love said the news was “deeply disturbing” and that the Government “must ensure that every wind turbine in the Mid West undergoes individual inspection and audit”. “Western Australians deserve certainty that our communities, workers, and environments are safe, and that all renewable energy infrastructure meets the highest safety standards,” he said. Shadow energy minister Steve Thomas said the government needed to take a “safety first approach” but warned the revelation would “add even more delays to a renewable energy roll out that is five years behind schedule”. It’s believed the parts affected at Warradarge had not been used in operational turbines. It’s understood there would only be an asbestos exposure risk if the parts had been disassembled — while the components identified at Warradarge were fully enclosed and contained. Dust and air-quality testing conducted to date detected no asbestos at the site and Vestas is organising replacement equipment. The company said it had been informed by a supplier about the asbestos threat and work was under way “to remove any risk of exposure”. “Vestas has taken immediate action to ensure that the limited number of turbines that may have a risk of exposure to asbestos are quarantined, and hoists potentially replaced while further investigations are carried out,” Vestas said in a statement. “Vestas maintains a zero-tolerance policy on the use of asbestos in our purchase specification, and the supplier has taken responsibility for not adhering to our policy.” Synergy owns the project with private investor Potentia Energy through Bright Energy Investments. A spokeswoman for Synergy said “potentially affected lift components” had been identified that were “yet to be installed”. “Testing is underway. The components are in the original packaging,” she said. “The health and safety of workers and the community is our priority, and immediate steps have been taken, including consulting with WorkSafeWA, to remove any risk of exposure. “Synergy and its investment partner Bright Energy Investments are working closely with our suppliers to quarantine and safely manage these parts while investigations are underway.” The company’s Kings Rocks wind project has not yet received lift components, while existing farms at Warradarge and Albany do not use the affected product. Those brake pads will nonetheless be tested as a precaution. It came as green energy notched a record month on the State’s main grid as renewables produced 56 per cent of the electricity in November. The State Government said energy prices for big customers had dropped 30 per cent in the month. WA’s environmental regulator also opened consultation on Synergy’s plan to build a fresh $4.5 billion wind farm at Tathra in the Mid West. That would include solar, wind and a battery.