The UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks released a written statement on March 26 (Thursday), declaring the British government’s position: not supporting the use of wind turbines produced by Chinese supplier MingYang in the UK’s offshore wind power projects.
The British government issued a written statement on March 26 regarding the acceptance of wind turbines from Chinese supplier MingYang Smart Energy, as “several offshore wind developers have sought the government’s views on their use in the UK’s offshore waters and energy system.” The UK government’s stance is not to support the use of such turbines in offshore wind projects in the UK, and this decision has been communicated to relevant offshore wind developers.
The statement said, “We will always be committed to maintaining national security and firmly committed to strengthening and prioritizing the construction of a resilient and sustainable offshore wind supply chain.”
“All Chinese investments that serve the national interest are welcome – as demonstrated by several major investment projects announced during the Prime Minister’s visit to China earlier this year. We will continue to pursue a long-term and strategic approach to handling relations with China – collaborating in areas within our capabilities, remaining vigilant about potential risks, and ensuring national security and system resilience.”
The statement further explained the UK government’s position: “The UK continues to maintain a global leading position in offshore wind power.”
“Offshore wind power not only provides a secure and reliable domestic electricity supply but also plays a crucial role in helping the UK achieve its clean power goals by 2030 and ultimately reaching its ‘net zero emissions’ vision; in addition, it will attract significant investment and create thousands of new jobs nationwide.”
Offshore wind power is considered critical national infrastructure. Wind turbines rely on Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, which collect and transmit grid data, operational status, geographical, and environmental information. If equipment or systems come from untrustworthy suppliers, there may be risks of data breaches and extreme threats of remote shutdown or interference.
MingYang Smart Energy is a privately-owned Chinese company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. However, critics express concerns: first, they worry that the Chinese government may interfere with private enterprises; second, they fear that competition from Chinese firms may further “hollow out” European domestic industries.
Last year, the Trump administration in the United States issued a warning to the UK government, claiming that allowing MingYang Smart Energy to set up factories in the UK poses a “national security risk.” Some UK parliament members have also criticized the factory construction plan domestically.