Chinese green technology poses national security problem for Europe, report warns

{"text":[[{"start":8.9,"text":"Dependence on Chinese green technology is making European countries vulnerable to national security risks including cyber attacks, trade restrictions and espionage, new research warns."}],[{"start":21.55,"text":"A report co-authored by Michael Collins, a former deputy head of national security strategy in the UK Cabinet Office, said European governments were failing to fully account for such risks as they roll out Chinese green tech in a bid to secure energy supplies and address climate change."}],[{"start":39.650000000000006,"text":"After the Iran war triggered the second energy shock in just five years, many European politicians, including EU energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen, have argued that renewables are more secure than fossil fuels because they are not subject to the same price volatility and supply-chain disruptions."}],[{"start":58.050000000000004,"text":"But China dominates green tech, producing about 90 per cent of the world’s solar modules, more than 80 per cent of wind turbines and 80 per cent of battery cells, as well as controlling wider supply chains for rare earth and semiconductor materials. "}],[{"start":73.10000000000001,"text":"Collins said countries risked “sleepwalking into a scenario where you’re suddenly confronted with a big national security problem”. "}],[{"start":80.30000000000001,"text":"Countries should “get on with the transition” away from fossil fuels, but “be mindful of the risks” and diversify supply chains where possible, he said. “We don’t want to replace one set of dependencies on fossil fuel imports with a dependency on Chinese low-carbon technology.”"}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":96.50000000000001,"text":"The report, co-authored by Michal Meidan, director of the China Energy Programme at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies and based on interviews with energy and national security experts, identified eight separate risks linked to an over-reliance on Chinese green tech.  "}],[{"start":112.70000000000002,"text":"Among the greatest was supply chain disruption, according to the authors, who argued that China was likely to restrict supply of low-carbon technology and components. Beijing has increasingly used export controls in recent years to leverage its control over global supply chains."}],[{"start":130.70000000000002,"text":"An under-appreciated risk was that the US could demand Europe remove Chinese technology from its energy systems — or face tariffs, sanctions or reduced security commitments, according to the report. It noted that the UK banned Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei from supplying kit for Britain’s 5G mobile phone networks following intense pressure from the US."}],[{"start":152.85000000000002,"text":"Other risks include a large-scale disruptive attack that could use so-called kill switches to remotely disable solar panels, wind turbines and other technology, according to the authors. "}],[{"start":164.85000000000002,"text":"While they said China’s “cyber actors . . . almost certainly have the capability to remotely access Chinese manufactured or operated smart hardware or software”, they said the risk of such an event was “very unlikely”. "}],[{"start":178.05,"text":"The report, which was commissioned by Loom, a non-profit focused on economic, environmental and national security issues, flagged inverters — which connect renewable energy projects with the grid — as an area that was vulnerable."}],[{"start":191.60000000000002,"text":"Chinese officials dismiss concerns about dependence on their country’s green technology, saying Beijing has no intention to use it for political advantage and that cheap turbines, solar panels and other renewable energy products reduce the much greater risk stemming from high carbon emissions."}],[{"start":207.95000000000002,"text":"Asked about the new report, the foreign ministry in Beijing said: “The essence of China-EU economic and trade relations and green co-operation is mutual benefit and win-win outcomes,” adding that they should not be “politicised or subjected to an overly broad security framing”."}],[{"start":226.05,"text":"In 2023, the FT reported that the National Cyber Security Centre, a branch of signals intelligence agency GCHQ, advised the UK’s National Grid to remove components supplied by a Chinese state-backed company from Britain’s electricity transmission network over cyber security fears. "}],[{"start":243.8,"text":"British security services have also investigated China’s wider role in the country’s energy system."}],[{"start":249.8,"text":"Loom’s executive director, Joss Garman, said the recent fossil fuel price shocks “should accelerate Europe’s energy transition but new dangers arise because the cheapest route runs so overwhelmingly through China”. "}],[{"start":262.6,"text":"Last month, the UK rejected plans for a Chinese wind turbine factory in Scotland on national security grounds. An Italian auction last year required modules and inverters for new solar projects to be non-Chinese. "}],[{"start":276.15000000000003,"text":"However, Collins argued there was a “fundamental difference” between the risks posed by low-carbon electron-based technologies and fossil fuels. “If you fall out with China, once you’ve already installed all your low-carbon kit, your economy isn’t going to fall over within a matter of days, which is what we see with fossil fuels,” he said."}],[{"start":303.05000000000007,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1777693581_6433.mp3"}