Advancing the Green Deal and establishing a new Industrial Deal will secure Europe’s prosperity, according to a joint statement by trade groups Cefic, Cembureau, Eurofer, Eurometaux and WindEurope.
Replacing fossil fuels and shifting to a sustainable, circular and just economy, as set out in the EU Green Deal, is essential for delivering Europe’s strategic objectives and energy intensive industry is at the heart of this transition.
Ensuring this industrial base is fit for a climate-neutral future driven by electrification, efficiency and circularity, will make it the bedrock of a thriving European economy, stated the groups in a joint statement.
Wind is already 20% of electricity consumption in Europe and is therefore a strategic resource for Europe’s industry.
“Chemicals, steel, aluminium, copper and cement are all a vital part of the European wind supply chain.
“Europe needs strong energy and electricity intensive industries in order to deliver the massive expansion of renewables.
“We must aim for materials and equipment for energy and other infrastructure to be made in Europe.
“That requires globally competitive clean energy and access to raw materials,” said the joint statement.
Current policies are not yet offering enabling frameworks to help Europe to deliver on these needs.
According to the IEA, “without PV and wind capacity growth in 2021-2023, average wholesale electricity prices would have been 3% higher in 2021, 8% in 2022 and 15% in 2023”.
Guy Thiran, Director General, Eurometaux (Europe’s Metals Association), said: “Today’s partnership is an important signal that European value chains are working together to make a collective success of the Green Deal, putting a strong industrial base at the centre.
“European metals producers depend on the delivery of low-carbon electricity at globally competitive prices.
“In turn, we supply the wind sector with secure and sustainable strategic raw materials.
“We need close value chain partnership to emerge stronger from this challenging period, where the energy crisis has forced large parts of the metals industry offline.
“Let’s make a real Industrial Deal happen.”
WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson (pictured) said: “Europe’s wind industry is an integral part of Europe’s industrial base.
“We must implement the EU Green Deal by complementing it with an Industrial Deal that helps Europe’s industries decarbonise through electrification.
“And the EU needs to keep supporting the wind industry through continued implementation of the Wind Power Package.
“WindEurope are delighted to sign the Antwerp Declaration and look forward to working with Cefic, EUROFER, Eurometaux, CEMBUREAU and its other signatories to make it happen.”
Cefic Director General Marco Mensink added: “Cooperation is the strength of Europe.
“Having the European wind sector as a partner will be a crucial element of any energy intensive industry being able to reduce emissions.
“The first step is to develop a plan for direct electrification for industry, then we jointly focus to help create the necessary infrastructure and new wind energy capacity.
“That is what the Antwerp Declaration is about.”