The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) has rejected allegations that Chinese-made turbines used in the Luxcara 270MW Waterkant offshore wind project pose a threat to Germany's political system. In a letter dated March 5, the CCCEU responded to concerns raised by German officials, stating that the claims regarding data collection or sabotage capabilities by Chinese wind firms are “technically implausible and lack factual basis.”
Luxcara, a German project developer, selected Chinese manufacturer Mingyang to supply 16 turbines for the Waterkant offshore wind farm, which is located off the northern coast of Germany. The turbines are expected to contribute to Germany's growing renewable energy capacity. Despite the selection of a Chinese supplier, the CCCEU emphasized that all control systems, data storage, and remote management of the project remain within the control of German and European developers.
“While national security is a valid consideration, its overuse risks distorting markets and undermining international trade,” the CCCEU wrote in the letter.
The letter was issued in response to a report by Politico, which cited concerns from German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. The concerns suggested that Chinese companies might exploit turbine technology to delay projects, harvest data, or even remotely disable turbines in German wind farms.
The CCCEU countered these claims, asserting that “Excluding Chinese firms based on unverified security concerns would constitute trade protectionism, contradicting the EU's commitment to free markets.”
Furthermore, the group highlighted the contributions of Chinese wind power companies to global green energy development. “Chinese wind power companies have been contributing to global green development with their efficient, innovative and reliable products, and have strictly complied with local regulations and safety requirements,” the letter stated.
The CCCEU also urged German authorities to “resist artificial barriers that hinder clean energy cooperation,” and reaffirmed that Chinese companies remain open to dialogue with German and EU stakeholders.
The debate over the involvement of Chinese companies in Germany's renewable energy sector comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over foreign influence in critical infrastructure, particularly in the context of national security concerns.
