Europe should take a firm stance against Chinese wind-turbine manufacturers benefiting from substantial state subsidies, while maintaining access to global supply chains, according to Rasmus Errboe, CEO of Danish wind-farm developer Ørsted. Speaking ahead of ongoing European Commission investigations into foreign subsidies, Errboe called for competition based on fair and equal terms in the wind energy sector.
The European Commission is reviewing whether Chinese turbine producer Goldwind has gained an unfair advantage through state support, following concerns that the continent’s solar industry suffered significantly due to subsidized competition from Chinese manufacturers. An OECD report highlighted that Chinese solar companies receive the highest levels of subsidies in the sector by a large margin.
EU officials are also wary of increasing dependence on Chinese technology in critical wind power components such as gearboxes and blades. However, Errboe emphasized the importance of balancing protective measures with continued integration in global supply networks. “Developers and equipment manufacturers benefit from access to a global supply chain,” he said, underscoring that European industry should not close itself off entirely.
Currently, Chinese companies represent a modest share of Europe’s wind turbine market, accounting for less than 3% of new turbine capacity installed last year, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. Their attempts to expand in the sector face restrictions, with the UK banning Ming Yang, a leading Chinese firm, from participating in offshore wind projects due to national security concerns.
German turbine manufacturer Nordex’s CEO, José Luis Blanco, has advocated for excluding “non-western” companies from the EU market on cybersecurity grounds, reflecting growing concerns about strategic vulnerabilities.
The European wind sector is poised for growth despite recent challenges. It is expected to install a record 24 gigawatts of new capacity in 2026, contributing roughly 20% of Europe’s electricity supply. Wind Europe, the industry’s trade group, forecasts that combined onshore and offshore wind installations will reach 436 GW by 2030. This represents significant progress after disruptions related to the increased borrowing costs triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Nevertheless, the sector still falls short of the EU’s ambition to install 500 GW of wind capacity by 2030, a key element of the bloc’s target to generate 42.5% of its energy from renewable sources. Meanwhile, several member states, including France, are pressing Brussels to revise its longer-term energy strategy, advocating for a “clean energy” plan that would incorporate nuclear power alongside renewables rather than focusing solely on reaching a 2040 renewables milestone.
As the EU seeks to protect and expand its wind power industry, striking the right balance between shielding European manufacturers and maintaining open supply chains remains a critical challenge.