Ming Yang UK Investment, Turkey’s Wind Ambitions

Allen discusses US-UK tension over Chinese company Ming Yang’s wind energy investment in Scotland, key offshore wind projects from HSM Offshore Energy and Great British Energy, Turkey’s ambitious wind energy goals, and new leadership at the Global Wind Energy Council.

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There’s tension between the US and UK over Chinese wind energy investment.

The US government has raised security concerns about plans by Chinese company Mingyang to build a wind turbine factory in Scotland.

Trump administration officials warned the UK about what they call national security risks. The factory would supply wind farms in the North Sea.

UK ministers are now reviewing whether to block the project. They’re worried about cybersecurity and being too dependent on Chinese technology.

Security officials say Chinese wind turbines could contain electronic surveillance equipment. Mingyang is not state-owned, but critics worry the Chinese government could interfere.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes had said Scotland was open to the factory. But the Scottish Government is waiting for security guidance from Westminster.

A UK Government spokesperson said they would never let anything threaten national security. All energy investments face the highest security checks.

Construction has officially started on Belgium’s major offshore energy project.

Workers cut the first steel this week at a factory in the Netherlands. They’re building parts for the Princess Elisabeth hub. The artificial island will sit twenty-eight miles off the Belgian coast.

The project will transport at least two point one gigawatts of wind energy to the mainland. That’s enough power for millions of homes.

HSM Offshore Energy is making high-voltage equipment at their Schiedam yard. Commercial director Hans Leerdam says this marks a key moment for European energy security.

The island will also connect Belgium to other European countries, including the UK. Final assembly will happen in Schiedam and Vlissingen.

Leerdam calls it one of Europe’s most strategic energy projects moving from plan to reality.

The UK government has announced a massive boost for offshore wind energy.

Great British Energy is leading a one billion pound investment package. The money will fund wind turbine manufacturing, floating platforms, and port upgrades.

Three hundred million pounds comes from Great British Energy. The Crown Estate and private companies are adding another seven hundred million pounds.

The investment targets key regions including Teesside, South Wales, East Anglia, and Scotland. Officials say it will create thousands of skilled jobs.

The government is also offering up to five hundred forty-four million pounds through its Clean Industry Bonus. This encourages developers to invest in deprived areas.

The North East of England could receive up to two hundred million pounds. That might unlock four billion pounds in private investment.

Scotland gets up to one hundred eighty-five million pounds for ports and high-tech components.

The offshore wind expansion should support fourteen thousand new jobs over four years. Industry leaders believe this could boost the UK economy by twenty-five billion pounds by twenty thirty-five.

Turkey is planning a major expansion of its wind energy capacity.

The country aims to reach forty-eight gigawatts of wind power by twenty thirty-five.

Turkey currently has nearly fourteen gigawatts installed. That makes it the sixth largest wind power producer in Europe and twelfth in the world.

Wind energy now provides more than eleven percent of Turkey’s electricity. It’s the country’s second-largest renewable source after hydropower.

The Turkish Wind Energy Association President says Turkey has become one of Europe’s top five manufacturing hubs for wind equipment.

Turkey has already allocated an additional twenty-three gigawatts of future capacity.

The Global Wind Energy Council has appointed a new chairman.

Michael Hannibal takes over as chair for two years. He’s a partner at Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Chief Commercial Officer at Stiesdal Offshore.

Hannibal says the wind industry has been delivering record growth. He wants to focus on accelerating that growth in new markets worldwide.

The Global Wind Energy Council has represented the wind industry for twenty years. Hannibal says new markets are developing on every continent.

He replaces Jonathan Cole, who led the council through a period of strong growth.

Hannibal has more than twenty years of renewable energy experience. He was previously CEO of Siemens Offshore Wind for seven years. He helped establish the world’s first floating offshore wind turbine in two thousand nine.

One of Hannibal’s first duties will be leading celebrations of the council’s twentieth anniversary in Lisbon.