LONDON, England – As governments double down on offshore wind from Europe to the Asian markets, discussions are no longer just about gigawatt installations and climate targets. They have shifted toward a harsher reality: escalating curtailments that leave turbines idle and waste billions in consumer money, while cybersecurity and data sovereignty threats loom under the tightening grip of Chinese technology on the digital backbone of these strategic energy assets.

At this year’s International Energy Week, convened by the UK’s Energy Institute, these stress points were categorically raised. Stakeholders presented offshore wind not just as the next frontier of growth in Europe, but as a strategically pivotal expansion story unfolding across the Asia-Pacific—from industrial pacesetters like China, Japan, and South Korea to emerging players like the Philippines and Vietnam.

As emphasized by Rebecca Williams, Deputy CEO of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), Asia’s surging electricity appetite, coupled with an urgent drive to break free from fossil-fuel dependence, could catapult offshore wind from a relatively modest 9.9 GW in installations last year toward a game-changing 143 GW by 2030. This trajectory is spinning the region into the next global wind investment battleground.

Yet, amid Asia’s massive potential, conference stakeholders raised a sharp note of caution: curtailments and cybersecurity vulnerabilities could clip growth, turning a wind bonanza into a minefield of operational and geopolitical risks.

Data from the United Kingdom’s National Energy System Operator (NESO) shows that approximately 8.3 TWh of wind energy capacity was curtailed last year—98% of which was reportedly contributed by offshore wind, including large volumes from facilities sited in Scotland.

Notably, the 1,075-megawatt Seagreen offshore wind farm in Scotland has been hammered by crippling curtailment, with shutdown rates soaring to a staggering 70%, effectively letting massive swaths of clean energy go to waste.

Consequently, curtailment costs for these capacities surged past the £1.0 billion mark in 2025. These costs do not simply disappear; they land directly on consumer electric bills, adding an estimated £15–£50 yearly to the average UK household's expenses.

By the UK’s policy and regulatory design, wind farm developers are paid to switch off their turbines when the grid is overloaded. At times, these companies can actually earn more from being offline than they would by selling electricity into the market.

How it works: When wind farms produce electricity that cannot be used or transmitted—primarily due to grid congestion—the system operator instructs them to reduce or stop output to protect network stability. Even while turbines sit idle, generators cash in by submitting "dispatch-down" bids in the balancing market. These costs are ultimately passed to consumers through system balancing charges.

Williams highlighted that UK wind curtailments stem from an outdated grid designed for thermal plants. She noted that the country needs a modernization roadmap to move beyond this "fossilized legacy" system.

"We need a modernization agenda... we’re in that dinosaur era; we need to embrace new ways of doing things," she stressed.

Amid rising geopolitical friction, industry players are also raising red flags over cybersecurity and data vulnerabilities tied to the dominant use of Chinese technology. These threats are shadowing Europe’s offshore wind sector and looming over rapidly expanding Asian markets.

Chinese technologies are often preferred because they are sold at significantly lower costs and dominate core components, such as rare earth magnets, blades, and full turbine assemblies.

However, a highly contentious worry is that remote access and embedded controls in turbine systems may open a backdoor for cyber threats, potentially turning clean energy assets into security liabilities. European defense and energy experts warn that Chinese-linked infrastructure could, in theory, extract sensitive data or hijack operational systems.

Critics argue that modern offshore turbines are packed with hundreds of sensors and digital control links, sparking concerns over who truly manages—and who could exploit—this vast network of operational data. Even in the US, media reports have flagged undocumented communication devices in Chinese-made power inverters for solar projects, underscoring a broader threat that similar hidden links could quietly connect wind turbines to grid networks.

Aman Wang, Vice President for Global Strategy and UK CEO of Chinese firm Ming Yang, asserted that cybersecurity and data protection are comprehensively woven into their turbine designs and that they strictly adhere to local laws. He emphasized that these vulnerabilities are not exclusive to Chinese technology and could exist within equipment from any country.

In the Philippine energy sector, the conversation is just beginning. Grid constraints are set to be a major hurdle as developers vie for capacities in the Department of Energy’s upcoming 5th Green Energy Auction (GEA-5).

The real challenge in the Philippines isn't just an aging grid; it is a glaring shortage of transmission infrastructure. This brings up a pressing concern: if future curtailments strike due to transmission bottlenecks, will compensation mechanisms pass the cost to consumers, or will investors shoulder the losses?

To date, cybersecurity and data breach threats remain largely abstract in the Philippines. The market has generally accepted that Chinese technology may be the "default recourse" due to its lower cost, often eclipsing hidden security risks.

Despite ongoing diplomatic tension in the West Philippine Sea, Filipinos may have to grow accustomed to a new reality: the constant presence of Chinese vessels navigating their waters to deliver large offshore wind turbines.

As stakeholders await the final tariff push for the Philippines' offshore wind ambitions, all eyes are on how regulators will confront looming curtailment challenges—and whether they possess the political will to tackle the contentious risks tied to a growing reliance on Chinese technology.