Europe quietly works on Huawei-treatment for Chinese wind turbines

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euractiv or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The European Union is actively working on policies to possibly ban foreign wind turbines, particularly from China, due to cybersecurity concerns
• This initiative draws inspiration from the exclusion of Huawei from EU's 5G networks, aiming to protect Europe's wind turbine industry from Chinese competition and security threats

🔭 The context: The concern arose after a Chinese manufacturer won a Serbian wind turbine tender, prompting the European wind industry to voice security and economic concerns
• The European Commission's response is the "European Wind Power Package," which includes policy proposals allowing EU countries to exclude foreign companies that don't meet certain cybersecurity standards

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Enhancing the security of wind turbines is crucial for ensuring the stability of Europe's green energy supply 
• Cybersecurity threats could potentially disrupt wind energy production, affecting the EU's efforts to transition to renewable energy sources and achieve its climate goals

⏭️ What's next: The EU's Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) will soon enforce new rules, making cybersecurity requirements mandatory for public auctions supporting renewable energy from 2026 
• These forthcoming regulations aim to safeguard Europe's energy infrastructure while balancing the need for security with flexibility for member states

💬 One quote: "We are being audited [on] whether technical components are made in China," (Edward Zakrajsek, VP at DeTect Global)

📈 One stat: Ten EU countries have already excluded Huawei from their 5G networks

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