Berlin says Chinese offshore wind farm could pose a security risk March 4, 2025

Illustrative offshore photo by Freepik

By AFP - Agence France Presse

Berlin says Chinese offshore wind farm could pose a security risk

A planned Chinese-made offshore wind farm in the North Sea poses security risks, including espionage, that is being studied “very seriously”, the German government said on Monday.

The German Institute for Defense and Strategic Studies (GIDS), which has links to the German armed forces, estimates that the 16 wind turbines planned near Borkum pose risks ranging from political influence, espionage via sensors to access to critical infrastructure security protocols and disruption of energy supplies, German media reported.

“We take this issue very seriously,” Economy Ministry spokeswoman Luisa-Maria Spoo told a regular press conference on Monday.

In a study, the GIDS experts recommended “preventing” the use of Chinese wind turbines in the project, as no decision has yet been made to authorize the delivery of Chinese turbines.

The discussion shows “that this is not a simple economic project”, as it involves “critical infrastructure” that could generate “new threat scenarios that must always be taken into account”, said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.

The Chinese government dismissed the concerns.

According to China's Foreign Ministry, there is “no evidence” that Chinese companies are endangering the national security of European countries, Handelsblatt reported.

Chinese manufacturers, such as Mingyang, are entering the wind turbine market by offering competitive prices and delivery times, which is increasing the pressure on European manufacturers.

Germany banned technologies and components from Chinese groups Huawei and ZTE in its 5G networks last July for “security” reasons, following warnings about the risk of espionage and sabotage.

Asked about the Borkum project, Home Office Minister Nancy Faeser said: “We need to reduce the threats to our security, including espionage and sabotage.”

“We must become more independent and better able to withstand crises,” she told the Rheinische Post newspaper.

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