Europe invested €27bn in new wind farms in 2018, financing a record amount of future capacity, according to WindEurope’s annual ‘Financing and Investment Trends’ report.
While the amount invested is similar to previous years due to cost reduction, especially in offshore wind, it will finance a record 16.7GW of new wind capacity, said the trade body.
“1MW of new onshore wind capacity now requires only €1.4 million capital expenditure, down from €2 million in 2015. And 1MW of new offshore wind capacity requires €2.5 million, down from €4.5 million in 2015,” states WindEurope’s study.
The report found onshore wind accounted for most of the future new capacity for which investments were announced last year, at 12.5GW. Offshore wind accounted for 4.2GW, though equal to 38.5% of the amounts invested.
In total 190 wind farms across 22 different countries in Europe reached final investment decision status in 2018.
Northern and western Europe still account for most new investments, according to the study.
The UK was the biggest investor, mostly in offshore wind. Sweden was second. Investments in southern, central and eastern Europe were only 4% of the total, though Spain and Poland will pick up this year, predicts the analysis.
A further €24.1bn was invested in the acquisition of wind farms, including projects under development and of companies involved in wind energy.
WindEurope notes this amount is much more than in previous years.
“The maturity of wind energy and the competitiveness of the sector have brought in more investors as equity partners in projects, particularly from financial services. As investors become more confident about wind energy, they can price risk more accurately and invest earlier in projects,” states the report.
Developers are also increasingly financing wind farms through debt. New business and ownership models have diversified the pool of investors, with banks, institutional lenders and export credit agencies looking to provide long-term finance.
This has meant a significant increase in ‘affordable debt’, particularly via non-recourse financing, or off-balance sheet financing.
“Lower interest rates and falling risk premiums – as lenders become more comfortable with risk – means wind farms are getting competitive funding and lower financing costs,” according to the report.
WindEurope chief executive Giles Dickson said: “Wind energy got 60% of all the new investments in power generation capacity in Europe last year.
“And it was a record year for the amount of new wind energy capacity financed. Cost reduction means investors now get more MW per euro they invest. And lenders are more comfortable with the risks so the costs of finance are falling too.”
Dickson warns that Europe needs to keep investing significant amounts in wind if it is going to meet its 32% renewables target for 2030.
“The money is out there. But there aren’t enough bankable projects. One problem is permitting: the processes are slower and more complex than they were,” he said.
Another problem cited by Dickson is the lack of visibility today on governments’ plans for renewables.
“The National Energy Plans they have to write this year are key to resolving this. If they’re clear and ambitious this’ll provide investment signals which will make projects happen,” he added.