In his speech at Davos last week, Donald Trump attacked the UK for investing in wind farms, along with other European countries.
“China makes almost all the windmills,” he said. “They sell them to the stupid people that buy them, but they don’t use them themselves.” (China is in fact the highest user of wind energy in the world.)
As he heads to Beijing this week, Sir Keir Starmer may once again face Trump’s ire. The prime minister is being lobbied by Chinese officials to back a proposed £1.5bn wind turbine plant in Scotland, which is expected to create up to 1,500 jobs.
The scheme promoted by the private Chinese firm Ming Yang has been in limbo for months, with a decision still pending from Whitehall on whether there are any security concerns. Its preferred location is at Ardersier Port, near Inverness.
The project is likely to be one of the key deals Chinese officials hope will win UK backing during Starmer’s trip and an expected meeting with President Xi Jinping.
Ming Yang executives are likely to be hopeful their scheme will be given the prime minister’s support, following the decision to approve the new Chinese mega-embassy in central London.
Chao Zhang, senior vice president of the Ming Yang group, who was also at the World Economic Forum in Davos, urged European countries to boost green energy with more open and innovative markets. In her address at the World Economic Forum, she proposed a new generation of large-scale floating wind farms.
Ming Yang is also a potential supplier of wind turbines for the proposed Green Volt floating wind farm off the east coast of Scotland. Ming Yang’s role in the scheme is also still being examined by officials in Whitehall and awaiting approval.
Related articles:
China is, at best, unreliable and, at worst, hostile and should be nowhere near our critical national infrastructure
China is, at best, unreliable and, at worst, hostile and should be nowhere near our critical national infrastructure
Harriet Cross MP
Starmer faces a delicate decision over the Ming Yang project, and the supply of its wind turbines. Last year, US officials were reported to have raised concerns with the UK government over the plan. To date, the manufacture of wind farm technology for UK projects has been dominated by firms headquartered in Germany, Denmark and the United States.
MPs have also flagged security concerns over the project. Speaking in a debate last June, Harriet Cross, the Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan said: “China is, at best, unreliable and, at worst, hostile and should be nowhere near our critical national infrastructure.” Ministers are able to veto projects under the National Security and Investment Act.
Newsletters
Choose the newsletters you want to receive
View more
For information about how The Observer protects your data, read our Privacy Policy
China has been pushing the UK to approve the Ming Yang project which has been identified as a priority project by the offshore wind industry in Scotland. In June, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, warned the UK against blocking the project on security grounds.
“It is unfortunate that some in the UK continue to hype up the absurd ‘China threat’ narrative,” Guo said. “If such practices continue unchecked, Chinese companies will have to reassess and cautiously consider their investment decisions in the UK.”
There have been various meetings between senior SNP ministers about the plan. First minister John Swinney was reported by the Scotsman to have met Zhang Chuanwei, the founder and chairman of Ming Yang, at an international investment summit in London in 2024 to discuss investment plans for Scotland while business minister Richard Lochhead met representatives of the firm on a trade visit to China in April last year.
A government spokesperson said: “This is one of a number of companies that wants to invest in the UK. Any decisions made will be consistent with our national security.” Ming Yang has been contacted for comment.
Photograph by Alamy