How Could China Do This?
The potential for Chinese interference comes from the level of access that turbine manufacturers have to wind farms. Modern wind turbines are not just massive blades catching the wind—they are sophisticated, internet-connected machines equipped with sensors and control software. Chinese suppliers, if given the opportunity to install their turbines, would also gain access to:
- Operational control systems: The software that regulates how and when the turbines function.
- Radar data collection: Wind farms use radars to monitor conditions, and this data could be of strategic interest.
- Remote shutdown capabilities: Manufacturers could potentially disable turbines from afar, disrupting Germany’s energy grid.
If relations between Germany and China deteriorate, Beijing could exploit this access, using energy dependency as a tool of economic warfare. The report even warns that China could coordinate such disruptive efforts with Russia, compounding the threat.
Who Is Raising the Alarm?
The warnings come from a study conducted by the German Institute for Defense and Strategic Studies, a think tank that provides strategic analysis to the government. The study is part of a broader European concern about critical infrastructure security. The European Union has already begun investigating Chinese wind energy projects in countries like Bulgaria, France, Greece, Romania, and Spain, suspecting that Beijing is using state subsidies to dominate the market.
Industry experts, such as Andrea Scassola of the consultancy Rystad Energy, have also voiced concerns, warning that overdependence on China increases the risk of cyberattacks and supply chain vulnerabilities. Other European nations, including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Poland, and Lithuania, have already taken steps to restrict China’s access to their wind energy sectors.
Why Are Wind Farms So Vulnerable?
Germany’s transition to renewable energy has made wind power a crucial part of the nation’s electricity supply. Wind farms generate about one-third of Germany’s total electricity, and their importance is only growing as the country phases out fossil fuels. However, this shift comes with risks:
- Digital dependence: Wind turbines rely on complex software that can be manipulated if controlled by foreign entities.
- Delayed approvals: The report warns that if China wanted to retaliate politically, it could delay new wind projects by at least four to five years simply by withholding components or services.
- Strategic locations: Some planned wind farms are near military training areas, raising concerns about potential espionage.
What Can Be Done?
To mitigate these risks, the report urges Germany to take decisive action. Key recommendations include:
- Blocking Chinese suppliers: The government should prevent any further use of Chinese-made turbines in critical infrastructure.
- Strengthening cybersecurity measures: Implementing the EU’s 2023 NIS2 directive, which aims to protect essential digital infrastructure, should be a priority.
- Exploring legal options: Germany could use its national procurement laws and the Wind Energy at Sea Act to exclude Chinese firms from bidding on projects.
- Investing in domestic alternatives: Supporting European manufacturers would reduce dependency on China and protect national security.
Despite these warnings, some German energy developers have already signed contracts with Chinese firms. Luxcara, for example, has partnered with China’s Ming Yang Smart Energy to supply turbines for the Waterkant offshore wind farm. The report stresses that allowing this project to proceed could set a dangerous precedent.
ACZ Editor: Germany has shown a great deal of naivete in dealing with energy issues in general. They shut down their nuclear plants in favor of renewables, and their fossil fuel imports are controlled by Russia. This is a very vulnerable position. They have already had to shut down manufacturing capability for lack of energy, and their economy is suffering. Now the windmills, its enough to make you pull your hair out.
