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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show? Email us! 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.