The CEO of Enercon, a leading European wind turbine group, has raised concerns about the escalating competition from Chinese wind original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and is urging political intervention to protect the continent's wind energy industry.
In an opinion piece published in Recharge, Jürgen Zeschky emphasizes the significant threat posed by Chinese manufacturers aggressively seeking to dominate Europe's onshore wind market. Zeschky argues that the practices of Chinese OEMs result in a “massive distortion of competition” that European companies are finding increasingly challenging to counter.
The heart of the issue lies in what European companies perceive as unfair advantages enjoyed by Chinese manufacturers, including subsidies and support from their home government. This financial backing enables Chinese firms to offer competitive prices, potentially undercutting European counterparts.
To address these concerns and maintain a level playing field for European manufacturers, Zeschky calls upon political leaders to intervene. He stresses the importance of implementing policies that protect the intellectual property rights of European companies and address the impact of subsidies provided to Chinese manufacturers. Without such political action, Zeschky warns that the European wind turbine industry could be at risk of being overwhelmed by Chinese competition.
In response to these worries, there are indications of potential action at the European Union level. An EU official has suggested the possibility of launching a comprehensive investigation into the subsidies provided by China to its wind turbine manufacturers. This proposed move aims to assess the extent of the distortion caused by these subsidies and explore potential measures to rectify the situation.
While specific examples of the alleged “massive distortion of competition” are not detailed in the article, it underscores the significance of the challenge facing European manufacturers and the importance of political intervention to safeguard the industry's future. The article highlights the growing recognition within European authorities of the urgent need to address these concerns and ensure fair competition in the wind turbine market.
