Chinese turbine maker MingYang sets sights on UK offshore wind

Chinese wind turbine manufacturer MingYang Smart Energy plans to enter the UK offshore wind sector and invest in a blade manufacturing factory, a service centre and possibly a turbine assembly factory there.

It signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together with the UK department for international trade (DIT) regarding investment into the UK’s offshore wind sector.

The UK currently has no Chinese turbines operating in its waters, and no Chinese OEMs have a manufacturing footprint in the UK.

Neither party has confirmed how much MingYang would invest, whether there would be any other investors, the location of any potential factories, or when they might be built.

Both parties will also explore other possibilities, including wind turbine testing, offshore wind demonstration projects and pre-commercial wind farms.

MingYang is interested in using UK-produced components and UK-based services, it added.

The agreement is the latest in a series of moves made by MingYang into European offshore wind. Its turbines are being installed at the 30MW Port of Taranto Port of Taranto (30MW) Offshoreoff Taranto, Apulia, Italy, Europe Click to see full details wind farm off southern Italy, its only publicly announced offshore wind turbine order in Europe.

It has also set up a business and engineering centre in Hamburg, Germany and is reportedly planning a wind turbine plant in southern Germany.

Earlier this year, MingYang announced plans for a 16MW offshore wind turbine – featuring the industry’s largest rotor and highest nominal power rating.

The UK aims to have 40GW of offshore wind capacity, including 1GW of floating wind, by 2030. It recently launched its fourth contract for difference (CfD) tender round, in which there is no limit on the amount of offshore wind capacity that can be awarded.

Windpower Monthly has contacted MingYang Smart Energy for further details about the planned UK investments.