PM delays Mingyang’s Scottish wind turbine factory – Daily Business

A £1.5 billion investment from China into Scotland’s wind industry is said to have been delayed by the Prime Minister over concerns about national security and the threat to Europe’s renewables sector.

Sir Keir Starmer had been expected to use his visit to Beijing to give the go-ahead for the wind turbine plant at Ardersier, which would create up to 1,500 jobs

Whitehall sources have now said the deal with the Chinese company Mingyang to build the UK’s largest wind turbine manufacturing facility will not be announced during his trip – the first by a UK Prime Minister since Theresa May in 2018.

There have been warnings that allowing projects of this scale would leave the UK exposed to China for vital renewables infrastructure. It has also raised security issues.

One UK government source told The Times that the proposed factory could still be given permission, with no start date.

China has emerged as a dominant force in wind turbine manufacture and Mingyang is its biggest. The company announced its Scottish plan last October.

The company said it would invest up to £750 million in the first phase of its investment before expanding to create an “offshore wind industry ecosystem” around it.

Discussions have involved the UK and Scottish governments, GB Energy, the National Wealth Fund, the Scottish National Investment Bank, the Crown Estate and UK Export Finance.

The temptation to buy from China is driven by significantly lower prices – up to 50% cheaper than European competitors.

Senior Westminster figures have warned of a risk that Beijing would use unfair state subsidies to undermine UK and EU energy independence by destroying the renewable energy market in Europe.

The security services are understood to have been asked to produce a report for Downing Street on the risk to the UK’s critical national infrastructure should the deal go ahead.

Part of the reason for delaying a decision is said to be a desire by Sir Keir Starmer to avoid antagonising President Trump who has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 100% on Canadian imports after Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, announced plans for a “strategic partnership” with Beijing to reduce tariffs.

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