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EU to examine Chinese wind turbine providers

The EU will investigate aids received by Chinese suppliers of wind turbines predestined for Europe, in the bloc's latest relocate to guard domestic companies from cheap tidy tech items.

The European Commission will check out conditions for the development of wind parks in Spain, Greece, France, Romania and Bulgaria, the EU's anti-trust commissioner Margrethe Vestager said on Tuesday.

Vestager did not name the Chinese companies which will be examined by the European Union's executive throughout a speech delivered at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, in the United States.

A group representing Chinese organization interests in Brussels expressed its profound dissatisfaction over what it called protectionism and a lack of openness from the EU as it rolls out its brand-new guidelines to counter state aid from foreign actors.

This action sends a damaging signal to the world, recommending discrimination versus Chinese business and backing protectionism, the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU said in a declaration.

While local producers like Siemens Energy and Vestas still provide the bulk of wind turbines to Europe's wind parks, they are significantly facing Chinese competitors on the world market - potentially threatening their positions in a global race to develop more effective, and more affordable, turbines.

Those important of China's extensive trade policies cite similar stress in Europe's solar market, which is stuck in a. serious crisis that has actually pushed some regional producers to the. brink of collapse.

China's competitiveness as a production location, the. Chinese government's push to develop the whole wind supply. chain, and enthusiastic renewable resource targets have actually all played a. substantial function, stated market intelligence supplier Enerdata.

Chinese suppliers make money from a thriving domestic market, where. local developers last year ordered wind turbines capable of. generating around 100 gigawatt (GW).

This is approximately the equivalent of 100 average-sized European. nuclear plants with two reactors, research study firm Wood Mackenzie. stated. It compares to an annual average of 29 GW set by the EU to. fulfill its 2024 climate and energy targets.

' OPEN COMPETITORS'

The Commission is currently investigating whether to enforce. tariffs on Chinese electrical automobile imports, stating it has. proof showing they take advantage of subsidies.

Vestager said the EU needed to adopt a more systematic. method instead of case-by-case examinations, adding: We. can't afford to see what occurred on solar panels occurring. again on electric vehicles, wind or vital chips.

Wind market lobby group WindEurope, whose members include. major turbine makers Vestas, Siemens Energy. and Nordex, welcomed the probe.

It is just natural that the (EU Commission) use the tools. at its disposal to restore fair and open competition on the. market, stated WindEurope Chief Policy Officer Pierre Tardieu.

European manufacturers were banned from using state-backed. financing to support their bids by providing less expensive rates or. delaying payments under OECD free trade rules, Tardieu included on. a conference call.

The wind power investigation will be under new EU powers. which have enabled the Commission considering that July 2023 to examine. whether foreign aids allow companies to submit excessively. helpful deals in public tenders.

Shares in Vestas, which decreased to comment, closed 0.7%. higher. A Siemens Energy spokesperson likewise decreased to comment. on the EU examination, but said that all market individuals. required a level playing field.

(source: Reuters)