Germany's political stability and social cohesion could be at risk if Chinese-made turbines are installed in the country, according to a report commissioned by the German Ministry of Defence. The document, which was reviewed by Politico, suggests that Beijing could exploit its involvement in German wind farms to delay projects, access sensitive data, or even remotely disable turbines, posing potential national security threats.
The report, prepared by the German Institute for Defense and Strategic Studies in February, highlights the growing concern over China's role in Europe's renewable energy sector. “When using systems or components from Chinese manufacturers … given the political situation, it can even be assumed that such a slowdown or even disruption would be deliberately used by China as a means of political pressure or even as an instrument of economic warfare,” the report stated.
It further warns that the integration of Chinese turbines could destabilize Germany's political system, industry, and social cohesion. “A destabilization of both the political system, the business model of German industry and social cohesion cannot therefore be ruled out due to a lack of or insufficient planning security in the energy sector,” the report adds.
The European Union has already begun scrutinizing Chinese wind suppliers amid concerns over state subsidies that may give them an unfair advantage over European competitors. Last year, the European Commission launched investigations into Chinese-linked wind projects in several EU countries, including Bulgaria, France, Greece, Romania, and Spain.
Andrea Scassola, vice president of wind research at Rystad consultancy, commented, “What we are seeing … is intensifying great power rivalry, and at a time when our world is more interconnected than it has ever been — it's a magnifier of vulnerability and risks.” He further warned that overdependence on Chinese suppliers increases the risk of cyberattacks, which could potentially disrupt power generation.
The report echoes these concerns, suggesting that China could intentionally delay new wind farms by up to five years and may collaborate with Russia on further disruptive actions. Additionally, it raises alarms over the potential access Chinese manufacturers could gain to critical control systems and data collected by turbines, increasing the risk of cyber threats and “considerable blackmail potential in the future.
Germany's Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the findings of the report. Meanwhile, the ongoing concerns have not prevented some projects from moving forward, such as Luxcara's selection of Mingyang Smart Energy to supply turbines for its Waterkant offshore wind farm in north-west Germany last year.
