Work

Gone with the Wind? An Assessment of Germany’s Onshore Wind Industry Amid Rising Chinese Competition

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: This paper studies the relative competitiveness of Germany’s onshore wind industry compared to China’s and investigates whether an equally drastic value chain relocation, similar to Germany’s solar PV industry, is likely. Based on a comprehensive study of Germany’s domestic market, international competitiveness indicators like the world trade share (WTS), revealed comparative advantage (RCA), and relative export advantage (RXA), as well as an expert interview, we found that Germany’s industry has lost competitiveness in recent years, supply chain shifts to China are observable, and Chinese manufacturers are poised to enter the German market. However, the German onshore wind industry is still competitive, has a strong basis in its domestic market, and, with the right energy policy framework, it could brace the storm. The novelty of this study is threefold: it offers a comprehensive comparison of the German and Chinese wind industries, presents the first analysis of the 2017 EEG reform’s impact on Germany’s wind industry, and is the first study to trace the evolution of domestic and foreign market shares in Germany’s onshore wind market.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su162410948

Authors: Florentina Paraschiv, Benedict Anderer, Rayan Ayari

Institutions: Zeppelin Universität gemeinnützige GmbH, Hertie School

Language: English

Topic: Global Trade and Competitiveness

Subfield: Strategy and Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,728