China's Mingyang joins Octopus for massive UK wind turbine push
Power group and Chinese OEM to work together in deployment bid, which will initially focus on onshore wind but could expand into solar power and battery energy storage
Chinese wind giant Mingyang has struck a deal with major British power group Octopus over the deployment of wind turbines in the UK.
Mingyang said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Octopus that could see the latter “provide Octopus software to control Mingyang’s world-class hardware”.
The Chinese wind OEM said the agreement forms part of a plan with Octopus Energy Generation, the renewables arm of Octopus Energy, to “unleash close to 6GW of clean energy projects identified through Octopus’s ‘Winder’ platform”.
"Initially focused on onshore wind, the partnership will also explore expanding into other energy solutions, including solar power and battery storage systems."
Winder is a 'match making' initiative set up by Octopus to finance onshore wind developments at sites with local community support and the 6GW figure appears to be rooted firmly in potential rather than proceeding projects.
But the explicit link between the UK's fastest-growing energy supplier, which acts as a self-styled 'disruptor' in the market, and a Chinese OEM is bound to be controversial.
Mingyang added: "As part of the agreement, Octopus will explore the implementation of software to create the highest levels of data protection and cyber security in combination with Mingyang’s cutting-edge offshore and onshore wind turbines."
Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Generation, said: “The UK is already a leader in wind, and this partnership with Mingyang is a core pathway to deliver some of the cheapest and most secure energy the UK has seen.
“By combining Octopus’s expertise in smart technology and software with outstanding wind turbines, we can optimise every kilowatt and cut energy costs for millions of bill payers.”