Ming Yang Smart Energy has accused the UK of "politicisation" after the government banned its wind turbines from offshore projects on national security grounds, despite the Chinese company listing shares in London. Chair Zhang Chuanwei warned the decision would undermine confidence among Chinese businesses considering the UK market. Government officials declined to specify what security risks the turbines posed.

The company had announced plans to invest £1.5bn in turbine blade manufacturing in the Scottish Highlands. The UK had signaled during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's January visit to China that the project could proceed. "You have no standards, no norms, no rules," Zhang said. "This doesn't conform to the practices of a market economy."

Ming Yang was the world's fourth-largest wind turbine maker by installations last year, employing over 25,000 people globally. Analysts noted Chinese wind companies face steeper regulatory hurdles than other clean tech sectors due to concerns about connecting sophisticated turbines to national grids, combined with geopolitical tensions and protectionist impulses. "When you go up against China speed, China scale and China's lack of interest in near-term profitability, you lose," said Tim Buckley of Climate Energy Finance.

The setback won't derail Ming Yang's European ambitions. Zhang said the company is now scouting locations for a factory in Spain and other countries, aiming to finalize plans in the first half of this year. "We certainly won't hang everything on one tree," he said.