Security in Europe is at risk as Germany nears a deal for Chinese wind turbines in the North Sea, it has been claimed.
Luxcara, a Hamburg-based firm, agreed the deal with Ming Yang Smart Energy Group earlier this month to contribute to the Waterkant project.
The Chinese company will supply 16 wind turbines, generating electricity for around 400,000 homes.
Giles Dickson, chief executive of lobby group WindEurope, has warned that the deal could undermine European security.
He told Bloomberg: “The European offshore wind supply chain was ready — is ready — to deliver a turbine made in Europe to this project.
“The European Union and Germany and any other countries building offshore wind farms have got to decide if wind energy is a strategic sector before it’s too late.”
Mr Dickson also said that Chinese firms have an unfair advantage in the market because they receive subsidies and can defer payments for up to three years.
Holger Matthiesen, who manages the Waterkant project, said in a statement: “By deciding for [sic] the world’s most powerful offshore wind turbine, we will be able to expedite Germany’s energy transition while fostering much-needed competition in the industry.”
But, earlier this month, a spokesperson of WindEurope warned that wiith this project, China gets access to critical infrastructure in Germany.”
Luxcara has defended the deal, saying it is “aligned with the EU taxonomy and cyber security supported by independent experts from international advisors DNV and KPMG.”
Meanwhile, Michael Bloss, a green EU lawmaker from Germany, told Euractiv: “We must not allow major industrial projects to be used to feed Chinese competition instead of building up Europe’s own industry.
“Such an economic policy is naive because China is currently preparing the de-industrialisation of Europe.”
