Wind developer Orsted does not rule out Chinese turbine technology

Ming Yang Smart Energy

15/08/2024 11:23

COPENHAGEN, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Offshore wind farm
developer Orsted  ORSTED.CO  has no Chinese turbines in its
current project pipeline, its CEO said on Thursday, but did not
rule buying turbines or technology from China in the future.
    The European wind turbine market is dominated by local
players such as Vestas  VWS.CO  and Siemens Gamesa  EMR1n.DE ,
but Chinese turbine makers have built momentum in the region in
recent months, adding to concern in the EU industry that it
faces an existential threat.
    Last week China's Mingyang Smart Energy  601615.SS  signed
an agreement to set up a wind turbine manufacturing plant in
Italy, while German utility EnBW  EBKG.DE  said it was
considering whether to use Chinese turbines for future projects.
    Orsted CEO Mads Nipper said on a media call the group has
followed "with interest" the developments in Italy and Germany,
and ruled out "absolutely nothing" in its supply chain.
    But while Orsted is already using Chinese components and
steel for its projects, it has no Chinese turbines in its
current pipeline, he said. 
    "I've previously said I think it is unlikely that (Chinese
turbines) would become an integrated part of Western
infrastructure. But that doesn't change our perspective that we
have been and are following all technologies across."
    Nipper spoke after the company booked surprise impairment
losses in the second quarter, sending its shares down more than
9%.
    In April, the EU said it would investigate subsidies
received by Chinese suppliers of wind turbines destined for
Europe, a move aimed at protecting domestic firms from cheap
clean tech products.
    Nipper said the company was taking into consideration the
regulatory risks of something unexpected happening "that could
make this more troublesome".
    Other large Chinese manufacturers include Goldwind
 002202.SZ  and Windey  300772.SZ .

 (Reporting by Stine Jacobsen and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen;
Editing by Jan Harvey)
 ((stine.jacobsen@thomsonreuters.com; +45 21 56 90 10;))