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British security services participate in an examination of the growing role of China in the UK’s energy system in the midst of concerns concerning Beijing’s influence in strategic national infrastructure.
MI5 helps to establish how much the use of Chinese technology such as solar panels or industrial batteries could pose a potential future security threatsAccording to people close to the situation.
The concern concerning the domination of Chinese companies of international supply chains for crucial technologies for decarbonization increases as the United Kingdom tries to go away from fossil fuels.
This has raised concerns in Whitehall as to the potential for sharing sensitive data with the Chinese government as well as the country’s potential control over strategic energy assets.
Examination of the growing role of China in the energy system is part of the broader “verification” of the Government of British-Chinese relations which will report later this year.
“The frightening watch him,” said an official. “It is linked to the industrial strategy, by examining the general questions of our object of our business and the risk of security.”
The director general of MI5, Ken McCallum, said in October that the “national protective security authority” – a branch of the national security service responsible for monitoring technical threats – has had a long -standing “concentration” on supply chain security.
The deputies faced this week the House of Commons this week for proposals for the private Chinese company Mingyang to provide wind turbines for a floating wind project provided in Scottish waters called Green Volt.
Although the largest wind -to -offshore wind company in China is private, criticism fear that there is a risk of interference on the part of Beijing in the decision -making of companies.
The Minister of Energy, Kerry McCarthy, told deputies on Wednesday: “We are undergoing rigorous processes to examine the role of China in our supply chain in investment in critical infrastructure. . . We take into account national security considerations. »»
Shadow’s energy secretary Andrew Bowie said that he was “unthinkable to take into account security implications” if turbines made in China were installed in British wind farms.
The sun reported this week that the Ministry of Defense had raised concerns that Green Volt could be used for spy sensors.
“Security experts have warned that sensors could spy on British seas, defense submarine programs and the provision of our energy infrastructure,” said Bowie.
“We depend on Chinese equipment and software, and on Chinese suppliers for updates and maintenance, giving Beijing interference opportunities.”
The “China Audit” of the United Kingdom is led by the foreign office, Commonwealth and Development with the contribution of other departments.
The government seeks to walk on a rope between a pragmatic economic relationship with Beijing and to protect against security threats.
The Labor Party has intensified diplomatic commitment, the higher ministers visiting the Chinese continent in recent months and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who seek to visit later this year.
However, the ministers for last fall used the national security and investment law to order a Chinese investor to sell their majority participation in a British semiconductor company.
Green Volt developers – belonging to the Norwegian -Italian flutation energy and Japan – denied having chosen Mingyang to provide turbines.
Green Volt said that he “identified the partners in the supply chain to help us build the wind farm”. He added: “For the moment, no turbine supplier has been confirmed for Green Volt. We will respect any regulation and government orientation concerning the security of national critical infrastructures in the selection of all our suppliers. »»
Mingyang said that he would open a turbine manufacturing plant in Scotland if it was chosen as a supplier and that the Treasury is supposed to support the program. “(The Chancellor) Rachel Reeves returned from her recent trip to China really to this project,” said government figure.
The British government wants to decarbonize the British energy sector by 2030, requiring a massive increase in wind turbines, solar panels and batteries.
In particular, civil servants are more concerned with the “primary control systems” used to tilt the blades and keep them in front of the wind.
The Green Volt situation illustrates the way in which Great Britain has adopted an inconsistent approach to China in sensitive industries in recent years.
The British government has forced the Chinese CNG nuclear company to sell its participation in the new proposed power plant of Sizewell C in Suffolk, although the group is still involved in the Hinkley Point C Consortium in Somerset.
Bowie said it was “worrying” that the treasure seemed determined to give the green light to Mingyang.
“This green revolution will be delivered with a label” Made in China “,” he said. “Chinese controlled technology integrated into our critical energy infrastructure is obviously a threat to our security.”
The government said that it undertook “rigorous processes” to examine the role of China in the British supply chain and investment in critical infrastructure. “We would never let anything from our national security, and although we would not start individual cases, investment in the energy sector is subject to the highest levels of national security exam.”
Any attempt to considerably reduce Chinese participation in the United Kingdom renewable energies The supply chains would be problematic given the domination of China in the supply of global batteries and solar panels, even if their role in British wind farms is currently relatively low.
“There is a fear of seeing a Huawei moment,” said government figure, referring to the government’s decision to withdraw Chinese company Huawei from the 5G network of the United Kingdom.
“The renewable energy market depends almost entirely on China supplies.”
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