Sharp Plastic Shards From Chinese-Made Wind Turbines Spark Hard Hat Warning for Farmers

Wind turbines in Albany, Western Australia, on Feb. 18, 2024. Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times

Farmers in rural areas of Victoria near Geelong are being told to wear hard hats because shards of sharp plastic are flying off nearby wind turbines.

Farmers received the notification following a bout of bad weather with a letter sent to farmers in the vicinity of the Golden Plains Wind Farm, 65 kilometres from Geelong—southwest of Melbourne.

Workers within 400 metres of a turbine were advised to wait for further advice.

Golden Plains Wind Farm is backed by both the state and federal governments and has planning approval for up to 228 turbines, with the current plan for 215 turbines across 16,739 hectares.

Environmentalist Says Wind Turbines Not the Greenest Solution

Environmentalist and mapping expert Steven Nowakowski has spent years researching energy alternatives and believes that while some renewable technologies are effective, they can be dangerous for the environment, and costly.

The former Greens political candidate—based in Cairns—says he was not surprised to hear about shards flying off wind turbines due to the nature of the manufacturing process and lack of regulation.

He said some pieces had serrated edges to improve airflow and help the turbine blade generate wind more efficiently. They were often affixed with glue too.

“The Golden Plains turbines are fully made in China,” he told The Epoch Times, saying there was a lack of adequate regulation around turbine safety.

Nowakowski also said there were no follow-ups or checks once the imported components had been installed.

“It’s a huge issue, it’s going to be an ongoing issue,” he said.

“It does not surprise me as I’ve seen the sloppy workmanship.

“If these wind turbines are falling apart in China you'd never hear about it.”

In July this year, pieces of a massive wind turbine blade broke apart off Nantucket Island in the United States, which was attributed to a design flaw. They later washed up on the beach.

Entire turbines taller than 750 feet have also collapsed across the globe, with additional height considered a factor in their demise.

Nowakowski co-founded Rainforest Reserves Australia, a group involved in environmental preservation that has also taken up the case against rapid renewable development that could impact the natural environment.

The Epoch Times contacted Golden Plains Wind Farm, and turbine manufacturer Vestas, for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Renewables Not Reliable Enough: Nowakowski

“You really can’t run a modern-day economy on the winds of the weather,” said the environmentalist.

Nowakowski said the government had sold the idea of renewables on the premise that the sun and wind are free, but has yet to outline the true infrastructure costs.

Renewables like wind farms and solar panels require gas generators and batteries as a backup when the wind is not blowing, or the sun is not shining. These costs all add up.

Nowakowski estimates Australia’s entire cost for its wind farm plans could reach $600 billion—with turbines only lasting 20-25 years.

Nuclear a Viable Option

Despite initially being cautious of nuclear, Nowakowski says his analysis has shown it would be the best way forward for a nation with a growing population and increasing needs for data centres and artificial intelligence.

Coal communities are open to the idea of nuclear as well if they are placed on existing coal-fired power stations, as proposed by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, it would also negate the need for costly new transmission lines.

Focus on Net Zero Means Safeguards Could Be Ignored: Lawyer

Few know as much about the inner workings of the Australian wind industry as lawyer Dominica Tannock from SDT Legal in Melbourne.

Tannock has represented, and continues to represent, multiple clients affected by wind turbine development.

Falling parts that had been glued onto turbines are just one of many complaints.

“The wind industry self-regulates and the government’s asleep at the wheel because they’re trying to meet targets,” she told The Epoch Times.

With most wind farms foreign-owned, Tannock said the government was firmly focused on investor confidence in order to hit those deadlines including net zero.

“Targets are popular with the electorate,” she said. “It wins votes.”

WorkSafe Investigating

The Victorian government has responded to inquiries from The Epoch Times saying it is working with WorkSafe Victoria to ensure the safety of farmers in the vicinity of Golden Plains Wind Farm.

WorkSafe Victoria is a government entity tasked with preventing workplace injuries and fatalities.

“Golden Plains Wind Farm is assisting WorkSafe to monitor the issue to ensure risks to health and safety are adequately addressed,” a Victorian Government spokesperson said.

“Public safety is the highest priority, and the owners and operators of windfarms must comply with strict energy safety laws and regulations.”