Chinese OEM MingYang ‘plans wind turbine plant’ in southern Germany

Chinese wind turbine maker MingYang Smart Energy is reportedly planning to set up a major manufacturing facility in Europe.

President Ye Fan told financial news wire Bloomberg that the company aims to start building the plant in southern Germany within three years.

It plans to produce turbines with a combined capacity of at least 1GW per year and also supply components and parts to European buyers.

The plant would be the first major wind manufacturing facility in Europe built by a Chinese company.

However, some of MingYang’s domestic rivals already have a footprint in Europe, with Goldwind owning a majority stake in German turbine manufacturer Vensys and Envision having research centres in the UK, Denmark and Germany.

MingYang has just three onshore wind turbines installed in Europe – at a site in Bulgaria – according to Windpower Intelligence, the research and data division of Windpower Monthly.

It is also due to supply a 30MW offshore wind project off southern Italy – its only publicly announced outstanding turbine order in Europe.

Earlier this year, it announced plans for a 16MW offshore wind turbine – featuring the industry’s largest rotor and highest nominal power rating. In October 2020, it unveiled a new 6.25MW onshore model at an industry event in Beijing.

Windpower Monthly has contacted MingYang Smart Energy for further details about the planned German factory.