Chinese Firm With Military Ties Supplying Turbines For German Wind Farm

Germany’s Waterkant offshore wind farm, scheduled to statesman operations successful 2028, will usage turbines from Mingyang Smart Energy, a Chinese institution pinch beardown ties to nan Chinese subject and Chinese Communist Party (CCP), according to a study by Newsweek. The project, led by German plus head Luxcara, intends to make astir 300 megawatts of energy — capable to powerfulness astir 400,000 households.

The North Sea upwind workplace is located adjacent NATO members Germany, Denmark and nan Netherlands.

What concerns person been raised astir Mingyang’s involvement?

According to Chinese authorities profiles cited by Newsweek, Mingyang’s founder, Zhang Chuanwei, is simply a erstwhile People’s Liberation Army personnel and longtime CCP loyalist. The institution reportedly employs hundreds of subject veterans and its soul statement committee places erstwhile soldiers successful cardinal operational roles.

A confidential study for Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defense reviewed by Newsweek warned that allowing Chinese suppliers into captious infrastructure presents technological, governmental and proviso concatenation risks.

Germany’s interior ministry declined to remark connected circumstantial projects but told Newsweek it takes earnestly nan risks posed by untrustworthy manufacturers successful nan power sector. Luxcara defended its decision, and said it conducted technical, economical and information assessments pinch outer experts and recovered nary logic to exclude Mingyang from nan project.

Separately, a German defense ministry study reported connected by Politico urged officials to artifact projects for illustration Waterkant connected nationalist information grounds. That study warned that Chinese-made turbines could springiness Beijing entree to basal infrastructure and nan expertise to disrupt operations successful a crisis.

What domiciled does Mingyang play successful Europe’s upwind sector?

While Waterkant is Mingyang’s first task successful nan North Sea, nan institution has expanded its European footprint. According to Newsweek, Norwegian authorities precocious excluded Mingyang from a awesome offshore upwind tender without providing a nationalist explanation.

Analysts and information experts interviewed by Newsweek warned that reliance connected Chinese suppliers for renewable power could expose European countries to strategical vulnerabilities. While Europe pushes toward power diversification and c neutrality, nan affordability of Chinese-made components complicates efforts to limit overseas dependencies. As reported by Newsweek, nan European Commission is investigating Mingyang complete allegations of unfair authorities subsidies.

Politico reported that Chinese suppliers could remotely hold aliases unopen down turbine operations, posing “considerable blackmail potential” successful a geopolitical crisis.

Is Mingyang expanding elsewhere contempt information concerns?

Mingyang continues to prosecute projects crossed Europe, moreover aft Norway excluded nan institution from its 1.5-gigawatt tender. Scottish officials person shown liking successful hosting a Mingyang turbine facility. Still, they person said each overseas finance decisions will beryllium taxable to owed diligence and nationalist information review.