OMNI Features｜Germany and Korea Struggle Between Energy Goals and China Security Risks

Germany and South Korea have raised alarms over potential national security risks linked to Chinese offshore wind power projects, yet major ventures continue without clear countermeasures. In May, Germany's Defense Institute warned that turbines supplied by a Chinese company, "Mingyang Smart Energy," founded by a former People's Liberation Army officer, could be remotely manipulated, crippling the grid and serving as political leverage. Despite these concerns, Berlin has neither halted the 270 MW Waterkant project in the North Sea nor implemented concrete safeguards.

Germany introduced a diversification strategy to reduce reliance on Chinese components by 2035, aiming to source up to half of key parts such as permanent magnets from alternative partners including Japan and Australia. However, energy companies warn that excluding Chinese suppliers could jeopardize Berlin's renewable energy targets of 30 GW offshore and 115 GW onshore by 2030. Meanwhile, critics in parliament and defense committees urge suspension of contracts until security risks are resolved.

The issue extends beyond Germany. The European Commission has launched a probe into Chinese turbine makers accused of unfair competition through state subsidies, while several countries including the Netherlands, Poland, and Norway have tightened market access. NATO has also flagged risks of surveillance and cyber intrusion, underscoring that modern turbines with hundreds of sensors pose data security threats.

South Korea faces a similar dilemma. Despite security concerns, state-owned China Energy Construction Corp. is leading a 365-megawatt offshore project worth 2 trillion won. With China controlling 65% of the global turbine market and offering prices nearly 50% lower than European rivals, both Europe and Korea remain dependent on Chinese technology to meet ambitious renewable targets—exposing energy policy to geopolitical vulnerabilities.