Like electric cars, wind power is claimed to be the answer to the so-called climate crisis, but the technology consists of anything but environmentally friendly components. In addition to the lack of profitability, many Swedish wind farms are also plagued by environmental issues such as asbestos. A connection to the struggling ‘green’ steel company Stegra has also been found.
Despite asbestos being banned in Sweden since 1982 due to serious health risks, the substance has been found in Swedish wind turbine installations. This is revealed in documents from the Swedish Work Environment Authority that Affärsvärlden has reviewed.
Previously, asbestos was discovered in the turbines at the Storhöjden wind farm in Kramfors municipality, which was subsequently decontaminated. It now appears that similar clean-ups have also been necessary at Vitberget in Kramfors (24 turbines), Ljungbyholm (twelve turbines), and Tomasliden near Skellefteå (ten turbines).
In Ljungbyholm, action was taken quickly and the affected components are being systematically replaced. EQT-owned OX2 refers to an independent expert who has assessed that there is no health risk as the components are encapsulated.
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At Tomasliden, German company WPD claims the problem originated with a subcontractor to the turbine manufacturer Nordex. According to Jonas Lundmark, Head of Business Area Sweden at WPD, brake pads for the emergency brakes in certain elevators contained asbestos, even though the contract explicitly forbade it. Nordex has replaced the affected components.
Both Storhöjden and Vitberget are operated by London-based Renewable Power Capital (RPC), whose chairman Shaun Kingsbury also plays a central role at the steel company Stegra.
Survey
After learning about the Nordex case via the Work Environment Authority, the Swedish Chemicals Agency has launched a supervisory case, meaning they are now mapping the chain of responsibility.
– We will contact the company that sold the brake pads and investigate which companies are in the supply chain, which products are affected, and what actions have been taken or are planned, says Frida Ramström, inspector at the Chemicals Agency, to Affärsvärlden.
In a column, Associate Professor Christian Sandström writes that media and authorities will surely find more cases if they look.
Is this just the beginning?
Fact – Asbestos
Asbestos is a collective name for several minerals with thin, strong fibers that were once widely used in building materials due to their heat resistance and insulating properties. It can be found in older insulation, floor tiles, roofing materials, and sealants. In Sweden, asbestos was completely banned in 1982, but many buildings erected before that year may still contain it.
The danger with asbestos arises when the material is damaged or processed so that microscopic fibers are released and spread through the air. These fibers can be inhaled and become lodged in the lungs, causing irritation and long-term damage. It is precisely the invisible and persistent fiber structure that makes asbestos particularly hazardous – the fibers do not break down in the body.
The health effects can be severe and often only appear many years later. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, an aggressive type of cancer in the lining of the lungs. That is why strict safety procedures are required when demolishing or renovating older buildings, and only trained personnel may handle materials suspected to contain asbestos.
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