EU moves to exclude Chinese wind turbines over security fears

The European Union plans to ban the installation of foreign wind turbines for security reasons, opening a path to reduce Chinese influence. China ranks as a top exporter of renewable energy technology.

Wind farms, deemed critical infrastructure, are potentially vulnerable to attacks, including cyberattacks. Thus, the Union aims to stop the installation of foreign wind turbines.

This move primarily targets Chinese technology. As the Euractiv portal reports, Brussels looks to adopt a mechanism similar to the one used for regulating access of the Chinese giant Huawei to 5G networks.

The proposed rule would be encompassed within the "made in Europe" regulations, aimed at shielding European wind turbine producers from Chinese competition.

The European Commission has unveiled a package of policy proposals titled "European Wind Energy Package." A major aspect is allowing EU countries to potentially bar foreign firms based on "pre-qualification" criteria, which include cybersecurity concerns, Euractiv highlights.

Huawei also plays a role in the renewable energy sphere, focusing on the development of modern energy via smart photovoltaic and wind solutions.

Notably, Huawei is involved in the largest hybrid farm project in Kleczew, Poland — the biggest in Central and Eastern Europe. This project integrates a photovoltaic power station with a wind farm, boasting a total capacity of roughly 223 megawatts (MW). "Huawei will supply 710 chain inverters and 23 transformer stations for the technological infrastructure expansion of the installation," reports Huawei's website.

The issue stems from longstanding US warnings about Huawei's ties to the Chinese government, concerns that have primarily revolved around 5G technology until now. This has led some EU countries to also distance themselves from the Chinese company.

China is a leader in supplying technology for renewable energy, particularly solar energy, and nuclear energy. Its dominance in exporting green technology shows its potential to use it as leverage.

The influence of China in renewable energy is significant. To illustrate, according to the German Federal Statistical Office, in 2022, three-quarters of the imported photovoltaic systems in the EU's largest economy were sourced from China.