China set to challenge global wind industry
By Pilita Clark in London and Leslie Hook in Beijing
Financial Times
Standing under the enormous swinging blades of the world’s most powerful wind turbine near the German city of Magdeburg, it is hard to imagine that Europe’s wind industry has much to worry about when it comes to foreign rivals.
The turbine, which is almost as high as the Great Pyramid of Giza, was built by Germany’s Enercon, the fifth-biggest turbine supplier in the world.
The biggest, Denmark’s Vestas, is six hours’ drive away. Germany’s Siemens, the ninth-largest, according to the BTM wind industry consultancy, is nearby. And Gamesa, the eighth-biggest is a few hours flight away in Spain.
Altogether, Europe’s manufacturers account for 89 per cent of their own region; 32 per cent of the US and 37 per cent of the global market, says the European Wind Energy Association.
But even in this stronghold of homegrown might, apprehension is growing about an emerging force in the global wind industry: China.
ft.com |
