Cautious welcome, not blind acceptance: The case for Chinese turbines in Europe
Chinese manufacturers offer lower costs, faster delivery and more product choice at time when GE Vernova has pulled back from offshore wind and Siemens Gamesa and Vestas are reticent to supply to floating projects, says OWC turbine engineering chief
Cybersecurity, data sovereignty and fair competition are all legitimate concerns around the use of Chinese wind turbines in Europe – but our continent’s need is great and there is a strong case rooted in urgency and economics for offering a cautious welcome to these new foreign players.
As Europe races to meet its goal of 450GW of installed wind power capacity by 2030, the industry faces significant headwinds.
A perfect storm of rising costs, supply chain constraints, geopolitical tensions and regulatory uncertainty is stalling progress at a critical moment in the energy transition. Could Chinese turbine manufacturers, currently seeking entry into the European supply chain, help revive momentum?
Cost benefits in a competitive climate
The case for welcoming Chinese OEMs is rooted in urgency and economics. Offshore wind project costs have surged by 30–40% over the past two years, driven by inflation, supply chain disruptions, and soaring demand.
These pressures have led to project delays, deteriorating business cases, and in some cases project cancellations. Developers are in desperate need of capital expenditure savings to keep projects viable.
Chinese manufacturers offer lower costs, faster delivery, and more product choice. Internal competition among Chinese OEMs has driven down turbine prices, while European suppliers have increased costs per megawatt. New entrants would boost competition and enhance supply chain resilience.
Scaling up offshore wind
Amid a turbulent offshore wind environment, major European OEMs are hesitating. GE Vernova has de-prioritised offshore wind, and both Vestas and Siemens Gamesa are reticent to supply to floating wind projects.
Chinese OEMs are developing 18–25MW turbines while European manufacturers remain committed to 14–15MW models. Larger turbines reduce balance-of-plant and maintenance costs, making floating wind more viable by reducing the levelised cost of energy.
Floating wind could significantly expand Europe’s offshore capacity by enabling installations further out to sea. Chinese OEMs could help reawaken innovation in this field and fill a critical gap.
Beyond cost and scale, Chinese participation could enhance supply chain resilience and stimulate competition, encouraging innovation among European manufacturers.
While around 80,000 people are employed directly by European turbine manufacturers, another 220,000 work in the broader wind energy sector. New competition could stimulate a more dynamic and innovative market, generating new employment opportunities.
Risk vs reward
This is not a call for blind acceptance. Legitimate concerns exist, particularly around cybersecurity, data sovereignty, and fair competition.
Wind farms are part of national infrastructure, and access to control systems and operational data must be securely managed. But these are not insurmountable barriers. Chinese OEMs have shown willingness to address concerns by offering to locate control rooms and data centres within national borders and to substitute network hardware and SCADA systems with European alternatives.
Chinese manufacturers already dominate Europe’s solar PV and battery storage markets. Cybersecurity risks are being addressed in these industries, and can be addressed in the wind industry as well.
The issue of fair competition is more complex. It is important that Chinese and European OEMs compete on a level playing field and that subsidies awarded in both regions do not unfairly distort market dynamics, as was the case in the solar PV market – with the collapse of many Western competitors as a result.
There are also practical hurdles to overcome. Chinese OEMs must establish operations and maintenance infrastructure in Europe to support installed turbines. In the short term, this may involve third-party service providers. Legal frameworks must also ensure the enforceability of contracts and long-term access to spare parts and proprietary information. These are solvable issues – likely to be addressed by early adopter projects.
Concerns about product quality are also diminishing. Chinese turbines are increasingly certified by European bodies and backed by a growing track record in their domestic market.
Winds of change: powering up to 2030
Europe’s offshore wind ambitions are immense. To meet them, we need more suppliers, more innovation, and more flexibility. Excluding Chinese OEMs outright risks slowing down the energy transition and undermining our climate commitments.
Instead, we should adopt a strategic, regulated approach – welcoming Chinese turbines where they meet European standards, contribute to local economies, and compete fairly. With the right safeguards in place, Chinese manufacturers can play a constructive role in Europe’s clean energy future.
Let’s not allow geopolitics or protectionism to derail progress. Progress often lies in new partnerships. But as with any productive relationship, boundaries must be set to allow it to flourish. A cautious welcome is not a compromise – it’s a strategy.
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