After the Site C megadam is in full-service, NDP Premier David Eby and new Energy minister Adrian Dix said Dec. 9 that BC Hydro will go all-in on new wind power projects.
Could that mean B.C.’s energy future relies on China?
Bob Mackin
Nine projects, worth $5 billion to $6 billion, were announced. They will be exempt from environmental assessment, despite risks to bat and bird populations. The projects are expected to provide as much power as Site C. Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. and Capstone Infrastructure are partners with First Nations on three each.
One of many wind turbines outside Beijing, rising above a roadside fruit stand in 2015. (Mackin).
According to the Center for European Policy Analysis, “China dominates the wind supply chain, providing between 70–80% of the core components and refines almost 100% of the critical minerals required to build turbines.”
French research firm Enerdata reported in January a significant shift toward Chinese wind turbine manufacturers.
American and European companies Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, and GE faced declining orders and marketshare. But China’s Goldwind, Envision and Mingyan were on the rise.
Enerdata said Chinese companies held two-thirds of marketshare in 2022, up from 46%, while American and European companies saw their marketshare halved, from 44% to 22%.
In April, the European Union Commission began investigating subsidies by Chinese wind turbine suppliers in Bulgaria, France, Greece, Romania and Spain.
“They offer cheap turbines and generous finance which distorts the integrity of the European market and disrupts fair competition,” said the press release on WindEurope.org.
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