Chinese wind companies expand overseas

Despite the difficulties in the Western wind market, Chinese equipment companies are increasingly competitive and looking to expand internationally with advantages such as massive scale, lower cost and diversification.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25£/month*

*billed annually at 99£/year for the first year then 149,00£/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2£/month*
then 14.90£ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

Despite the difficulties in the western wind market, Chinese original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have been protected by a strong domestic market and a local supply chain. Today, the Chinese onshore industry is ready to capitalize on its advantages to conquer new territories.

 

Expansion of Chinese suppliers in the offshore market

Chinese suppliers are already ahead of the curve in the offshore market, exporting their first order of jackets and monopiles in 2022. With a healthy cost base, oversupply and strong financials, Chinese suppliers are more competitive than ever and continue to expand their presence.

 

Advantage of onshore wind power

Chinese wind companies are looking to expand overseas through several channels, ranging from asset investment to equipment supply to engineering, procurement and construction (EPC). China benefits from its massive scale, lower cost and diversification. However, there are obstacles to overcome, such as funding, increased technical requirements, protectionist policies, and increasing geopolitical risks.

 

Key to global success: local presence

To succeed overseas, Chinese companies must take a proactive approach and have a local presence. This will ensure that projects meet local market demand and counter protectionist opposition. Chinese companies are actively seeking to collaborate with Western companies to build a sustainable supply chain. Emerging markets and massive infrastructure projects could offer considerable opportunities for Chinese wind companies.

 

RWE has secured contracts for four renewable energy projects totalling 68 MW in Italy, with construction set to begin in 2026, reinforcing its expansion strategy in the market.
RWE and TotalEnergies will install 66 Reef cubes® around the foundations of 11 turbines at the OranjeWind wind farm, marking one of the largest applications of artificial reefs in the North Sea.
Italy allocated 82% of the proposed solar and wind capacities in the Fer-X auction, totalling 8.6GW, with competitive purchase prices and a strong concentration of projects in the southern part of the country.
Amid rising public spending, the French government has tasked two experts with reassessing the support scheme for renewable electricity and storage, with proposals expected within three months.
Swedish energy group Vattenfall introduces "Rewind", an interactive platform designed to commercially repurpose technical parts from dismantled wind turbines.
National operator PSE partners with armed forces to protect transformer stations as critical infrastructure faces sabotage linked to foreign interference.
The Norwegian government establishes a commission to anticipate the decline of hydrocarbons and assess economic options for the country in the coming decades.
The rapid growth of onshore wind in Southeast Asia is at risk due to inflexible public policies and inadequate power transmission infrastructure.
Enefit Green has sold its only wind farm in Finland to Canadian fund TD Greystone Infrastructure Fund, refocusing operations on the Baltic states and Poland in a regional concentration strategy.
Kazakhstan plans to allocate 3 GW of wind and solar projects by the end of 2026 through public tenders, with a first 1 GW tranche in 2025, amid efforts to modernise its power system.
McDonald’s UK commits to purchasing all electricity from the Douglas West Extension Wind Farm, a 66 MW project developed by Capital Dynamics in Scotland, under a long-term agreement managed by ENGIE.
Hurricanes Beryl, Helene and Milton accounted for 80% of electricity outages recorded in 2024, marking a ten-year high according to federal data.
Swedish developer OX2 acquires three onshore wind projects totalling 235 MW in Romania, pushing its portfolio beyond 1.1 GW in a rapidly growing market.
Danish group Vestas is expanding its blade plant in Poland and creating more than 300 jobs to supply turbines to Germany, the leading onshore wind market in Europe.
The UK government has approved the development consent for the 480 MW Morecambe offshore wind farm, a project led by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and scheduled to enter construction in 2027.
Infinity Power has started work on its 200 MW wind project in Ras Ghareb, strengthening its position in the African market with technical support from China's POWERCHINA Huadong.
A partnership between the European Investment Bank and Crédit Agricole CIB aims to generate up to €8 billion in wind energy investments across the European Union through a bank guarantee mechanism.
The French Energy Regulatory Commission introduces a temporary prudential control on gas and electricity suppliers through a “guichet à blanc” opening in December, pending the transposition of European rules.
With a €600mn ($652mn) contribution, the European Investment Bank becomes the main lender of the BC-Wind offshore wind project developed by Ocean Winds off the Polish coast.
Cadeler has taken delivery of its tenth wind turbine installation vessel, Wind Mover, delivered ahead of schedule and immediately deployed in Europe, strengthening its capabilities amid rising industrial demand.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25£/month*

*billed annually at 99£/year for the first year then 149,00£/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2£/month*
then 14.90£ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.