Octopus: we'll make Chinese wind turbines secure like smartphones

British energy group Octopus cited parallels with smartphones as it claimed a planned link up with Mingyang would provide “confidence” that Chinese wind turbines could be used safely in the UK power system.

The prospect of Mingyang or other Chinese turbines entering UK power networks has previously drawn warnings from some politicians over the integrity of data and the implications for energy security.

“We have a strong track record in making the energy system smarter with cutting-edge tech, and this partnership is an extension of that mission.”

Octopus’s emergence as a disruptor in the UK retail energy market has happened alongside the growth of Kraken, its proprietary technology arm aimed at managing areas such as customer data and grids – and which is now being tipped for a £10bn ($13.6bn) split off from the main utility business.

The proposed Octopus-Mingyang link-up will initially focus on onshore wind, the two companies said, with a plan to deploy Chinese turbines at sites developed under the power utility’s Winder programme – a ‘matchmaking’ scheme to place wind projects at communities interested in hosting them.

The company added: “So far, we’ve had over 40,000 submissions… Based on this data, Winder has identified sites across the country that could host up to 6GW of green energy – and we’re aiming to develop as much of this as possible to bring bills down for people.”

“We’re still in the early stages of the partnership, manufacturing and supply chain is something we are currently discussing.”

The UK’s post-Brexit status may make it an easier target for investment for China’s groups than the EU, which has launched anti-subsidy inquiries over Chinese wind OEM’s activities in a number of member states.

“I have raised this with ministers in parliament already, but they are so determined to rush ahead with their ideological plan to decarbonise the whole grid that they are prepared to risk our national security.”