Wind Turbines and hazardous materials in energy infrastructure: EIR release

Information requested

I am writing further to my request of 23 November 2025.

Since then, it has recently been publicly reported that asbestos has been found in over 1,000 wind turbines erected in the UK, and the GMB Union has expressed strong concern about the risks this poses to workers and the public. Given these developments, I am seeking clarification on the situation in Scotland.

Under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004, I would be grateful if you could provide the following:

1. Whether any wind turbines containing asbestos have been erected in Scotland, and if so: how many; their locations; the manufacturers and models involved; when the Scottish Government or its agencies first became aware of this issue.

2. Any information on what actions the Scottish Government intends to take in relation to any turbines in Scotland that may contain asbestos, including any inspections, risk assessments, or discussions with developers, operators, HSE, SEPA, or local authorities.

3. Whether the Scottish Government will now require all turbines erected or to be erected in Scotland to be certified asbestos‑free, and if not, the reasons for this and any associated risk assessments or internal discussions.

4. Whether the Scottish Government will now reconsider, in light of renewed concerns about hazardous materials in energy infrastructure, its previous position that mandatory below‑ground testing for Caesium‑137 in peat before excavation was unnecessary.

I would be grateful for any updated risk assessments or internal correspondence on this matter.

If any of the information is held by another public authority, I would appreciate being advised or directed accordingly.

I look forward to receiving your response within the statutory 20‑day period.

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold the information you are seeking. In relation to consenting windfarms, which is a power devolved to the Scottish Government, the model of wind turbine to be installed as part of a proposed development would be selected through a competitive procurement process post consent.

Under the terms of the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs (information not held), we are not required to provide information which we do not have. This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception. While we recognise that there may be some public interest in this information, clearly, we cannot provide information which we do not hold.

As outlined in our response to EIR request reference number 202500495061, in the UK the primary responsibility for checking and enforcing the ban on asbestos imports lies with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). HMRC is responsible for customs declarations at the border, while the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the main enforcing authority for asbestos regulations in Great Britain. It may therefore be helpful to contact them in relation to your query.

The Scottish Government would expect any developers constructing windfarms and associated infrastructure to comply with all relevant UK legislation.

There is also further information about the Health and Safety Executive’s role in relation to asbestos at their website: Asbestos - HSE.

With respect to your fourth question, SEPA (which advises the Scottish Government on these matters), does not regard the radioactive contamination contained within Scottish peatlands arising from the Chernobyl nuclear incident to pose a realistic risk to human health. Please see link to a report on SEPA’s website regarding disturbance to peatland areas and contamination from Chernobyl:Radioactivity and Wind Farm Developments on peatlands. For Further information regarding Caesium-137, please contact SEPA.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.