White asbestos has been detected in brake pads used in Chinese-manufactured turbines, sparking a safety scandal that has engulfed Australia’s burgeoning wind energy sector.
The discovery prompted urgent restrictions at multiple wind farms and a co-ordinated regulatory audit across five States.
First uncovered at a Tasmanian site a few days ago, the issue has raised alarm over supply-chain oversight in the renewables industry. There are fears that hundreds of turbines could be contaminated despite a long-standing import ban on the deadly material.
The issue came to light during routine maintenance at the Cattle Hill wind farm in central Tasmania, operated by Goldwind Australia – a subsidiary of the Beijing-based Goldwind Science and Technology.
The company has supplied turbines for developments in the UK, Germany and elsewhere, often leveraging cost advantages that undercut European rivals by 30 per cent to 50 per cent due to State subsidies in China.
Technicians identified chrysotile, a form of white asbestos known for its carcinogenic properties, in brake pads used for the internal service lifts that transport workers up the turbine towers.
These components were supplied by 3S Industry, another Chinese firm and one of Australia’s few major brake pad providers for such equipment.
Asbestos, linked to lung diseases including mesothelioma, has been prohibited in imported goods to Australia since 2003, making the discovery a stark breach of regulations.
Goldwind, which powers about 5 per cent of the nation’s annual renewable energy output through around 475 turbines, swiftly restricted access to all affected units across its fleet and engaged specialist removal teams.
“All staff access to the affected turbines with 3S lifts has been restricted across the entire Goldwind Australia fleet,” a company spokesperson confirmed, adding that a comprehensive testing programme for spare parts and air quality is underway.
Initial government assessments suggest “extremely low” risks to workers, with no evidence of environmental release or community exposure, as the asbestos is confined to internal mechanisms.
Nonetheless, the company has notified other operators reliant on 3S supplies, broadening the probe.
The contamination extends beyond Tasmania. Regulators confirmed traces at several sites, including White Rock, Gullen Range and Biala wind farms in New South Wales; Clarke Creek in Queensland; and Moorabool and Stockyard Hill in Victoria.
Beijing Energy International (BJEI) Australia, which manages Gullen Range and Biala, reported asbestos in spare brake pads at the latter but not the former, which uses a different supplier.
“Our focus has been on the health and safety of our staff, contractors, and the community,” BJEI stated, pledging full co-operation with authorities.
WorkSafe Victoria and SafeWork NSW spearheaded the response, uniting with interstate and federal bodies for a nationwide audit of renewable infrastructure.
Inspectors are evaluating compliance under occupational health laws, with plans to secure 3S Industry’s customer records to map the full scope.
“WorkSafe is working with the product supplier as well as other interstate and national regulators to determine and communicate associated risks and control measures,” said a WorkSafe official, emphasising restricted access until safe replacements are installed.
No stop-work orders have been issued yet but operations at impacted sites remain curtailed pending results.
The scandal echoes recent asbestos scares such as contaminated coloured sand from China that closed schools in the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and South Australia earlier in November.
It has amplified calls for tighter scrutiny of imported renewables components, amid Australia’s aggressive net-zero targets.
Goldwind, a key player in the sector, has faced questions over due diligence, although it insists the fault lies with the third-party supplier.
Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting, through its energy arm Hancock Energy, has spotlighted the incident on its website, republishing a detailed report from The Australian.
While Hancock has no direct involvement in the affected projects; the move aligns with Rinehart’s vocal opposition to rapid renewable expansion, which she has branded a “bad policy founded on economic lies”.
Critics, including the Clean Energy Council, have urged calm, reiterating Australia’s “zero tolerance” for asbestos and committing to enhanced supply chain audits.
Europe’s strict regulations are supposed to provide a strong safety buffer against the use of asbestos.
It has been banned EU-wide since 2005.
