WindEurope’s newly elected chair Sven Utermohlen has called for more “homegrown technologies” to address energy security concerns in his address to the 2022 Bilbao conference.
Utermohlen, who is also CEO of Offshore Wind at RWE Renewables, said that this will require a “new approach” to auctions that bring “added value” to the European wind industry.
He was speaking at the opening session of WindEurope’s annual conference, which is taking place across three days at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre.
Utermohlen also said that wind “must be part of the European response” to energy security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and “the right government policies” are needed “more than ever”.
However, he said the industry was “acutely aware” of the pressure facing governments amid rising energy bills and added “abrupt, uncoordinated changes” would be “detrimental to investment”.
He was joined in the opening address by Juan Diego Diaz Vega, president of the AEE, who said the industry needs to work with local communities to overcome planning issues and that a “confident and steady scenario” is required to attract the investment the European wind industry needs.