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Reliance
on Chinese green tech poses ‘serious’ risk for Europe, experts say
Continent
‘sleepwalking’ into series of economic and national security problems due to
over-dependence
Dan Milmo
Global technology editor
Wed 29
Apr 2026 10.49 EDT
Europe is
“sleepwalking” into a series of economic and national security problems because
of an over-reliance on Chinese green technology, according to experts.
A report
co-authored by Michael Collins, a former deputy head of national security
strategy at the UK Cabinet Office, described the risks of depending on China
for green tech as “serious”.
“Europe
risks sleepwalking into a series of economic and geopolitical national security
problems because of over-reliance on Chinese low-carbon technology,” he said.
The
report said Europe was heavily dependent on Chinese green technology, with
China supplying 98% of the continent’s solar panels; 88% of imports of
lithium-ion batteries, which are used in smartphones, electric vehicles and
large-scale energy storage; and 61% of imports of inverters, which integrate
renewable energy with a power grid. Chinese EV brands are also increasingly
popular across Europe.
The
report said potential threats included China using “kill switches” to remotely
disable solar panels, EVs or power grids. However, the report said such an
attack was “very unlikely” unless China was at war or near conflict, given the
risk of inciting retaliation.
“The
national security risks of dependency on China for low-carbon technology are
not the same as dependency on fossil fuel imports – but they are serious,” it
said, adding: “It is striking how poorly recognised the risks and their impact
appear to be.”
The
report was commissioned by Loom, a non-profit organisation that focuses on
economic, environmental and national security issues, and was funded by the New
Energy Industrial Strategy Center, a US-based non-profit. It was co-authored by
Michal Meidan, the head of the China energy research at the Oxford Institute
for Energy Studies.
The
report claimed it was “very likely” that China used green tech to conduct
surveillance, such as using offshore energy infrastructure to track submarine
movements or use audio and video captured by EVs.
Supply
chain disruption, whereby China restricts supply of low-carbon tech and
components, whether deliberately or due to unforeseen events such as extreme
weather, was described as “likely” by the authors. The prospect of China
dependence creating long-term economic harm was characterised as “very likely”,
with the report saying Europe’s industrial competitiveness would be eroded – as
shown by Chinese dominance of solar, EVs and batteries.
“Where
the west once led, China now dominates,” said the report.
It said a
host of European industries could be affected by reliance on Chinese green
technology, including car and wind tech manufacturing, with AI development also
potentially affected. The defence sector also relies on many of the same
components and manufacturing techniques as green tech, the report added, and as
a result that industry could become more dependent on China as well.
As
China’s importance to Europe’s energy systems grows, it will be able to have a
greater effect on the continent’s ability to stand up to the country during
disagreements.
“Europe
does not want to be forced to choose between condemning and opposing Chinese
activity in the South China Sea, or keeping their energy transition on track,”
said the report.
It added
that the relationship with the US could also make dependence on China
problematic, because Washington could demand removal of Chinese suppliers or
components
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