Danish renewable energy company Ørsted is backing European efforts to address competition from Chinese wind turbine manufacturers, while warning that Europe should not close itself off from global supply chains, according to Financial Times.
Ørsted CEO Rasmus Errboe, who is taking over the rotating chair of industry group WindEurope, told the Financial Times that European wind companies need to compete with Chinese manufacturers on “fair and equal terms”. The European Commission is currently investigating Chinese turbine maker Goldwind over concerns about possible state subsidies.
Chinese manufacturers currently have only a small share of Europe’s wind market, but their presence is growing internationally. The EU is particularly concerned about becoming dependent on China for high-value components such as turbine blades and gearboxes.
The issue is also relevant to Southeast Asia, where Chinese companies are gaining a foothold as countries expand renewable energy. Chinese manufacturers are already involved in wind projects in countries including Vietnam, while the Philippines has also seen growing use of Chinese turbine technology.
Europe’s wind industry is expected to install a record 24GW of new capacity in 2026. Errboe said Europe needs to strengthen its own wind industry while maintaining access to international suppliers.
For Scandinavian companies operating in the region, the growing competition could become increasingly important as Southeast Asian countries invest in offshore and onshore wind power.
