Mingyang Smart Energy is reviewing Spain and other European locations for a possible turbine manufacturing plant after UK support for its planned Scottish factory was blocked on national security grounds.
The Chinese wind turbine maker had proposed a GBP 1.5 billion, about EUR 1.7 billion, facility at the Port of Nigg in Scotland. The site was expected to produce MySE 18.X-28X offshore wind turbines for European projects.
The plan was paused after the UK government said in March that it could not support the use of Mingyang Smart Energy turbines in offshore wind projects around the country. The company said the decision limited the UK’s opportunity to gain from additional competition in a tight global turbine market. It also said its 18.5 MW platform had no direct European alternative.
Mingyang Smart Energy said it is not state-owned or state-controlled and cited its Shanghai listing and secondary London listing. The company also said it had prepared technology and commercial measures to address data and cybersecurity concerns.
Reuters reported that Mingyang Smart Energy has held talks with the Spanish government and is also assessing other European locations for a potential manufacturing site.
The company had been selected as the preferred turbine supplier for the Green Volt floating wind project in Scotland. It was also named in 2024 as a preferred supplier for the Waterkant project in Germany, where 18.5 MW turbines had been planned. Both projects have since dropped plans to use Mingyang Smart Energy technology, with the 300 MW Waterkant project switching to Siemens Gamesa turbines.
The 18+ MW model is still planned for Renexia’s proposed 2.8 GW Med Wind floating wind farm in Italy. Renexia has already installed Mingyang Smart Energy technology at Taranto, also known as Beleolico, Italy’s first offshore wind farm.
In 2024, Renexia and Mingyang Smart Energy signed an MoU with Italy’s Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy covering turbine production in Italy and supply of the 18.8 MW model for Med Wind.
