The German government and wind industry has agreed a paper of measures required for growth and value creation in the domestic wind industry.
Yesterday afternoon, the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, Robert Habeck, met with representatives of European wind turbine manufacturers and suppliers at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK).
The focus was on the topics of security, fair competition conditions, reducing dependencies on imports and financing in the wind industry, resulting in a paper of measures to create a level playing field for the German wind industry.
Habeck said: “We have a strong wind industry in Germany and Europe.
“It is ready for the implementation of the energy transition and thus contributes to our strategic, energy policy and technological sovereignty.
“We must continue to improve the framework conditions so that this industry remains competitive and the conditions for future value creation in Germany and Europe are in place.
“The agreed measures are a decisive step in this.”
The Action Plan reiterates Germany’s standpoint that onshore and offshore wind turbines are critical energy infrastructure and must be protected accordingly.
The BMWK is committed to applying robust cyber and data security laws to its wind turbines to ensure the highest security standards.
This includes widening the list of companies that are subject to cyber security requirements to all companies that can access and control the functioning of modern wind turbines.
“Well done to the German Government for acting to ensure a level playing field between Europe’s wind energy supply chain and manufacturers from outside of Europe.
“There is no place in Europe for unfairly subsidised prices or financing terms. Well done to Germany too for acting on the crucial issue of data security.
“There are hundreds of sensors on a modern wind turbine.
“Whoever puts them on the components has priceless information and the power the control the functioning of those components and the turbine,” said WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson.
The Action Plan also announces a new industry roadmap for permanent magnets which aims to incrementally reduce Europe’s dependencies in this segment.
The BMWK further intends to support the ramp up of Europe’s wind energy manufacturing capacity.
Proposed measures to channel money into new and expanded wind turbine factories include a new support programme for financial guarantees provided by the German state-owned investment bank KfW.
Along the German wind energy supply chain the Action Plan estimates an need for guarantees of €16bn by 2030.
The BMWK also calls for closer scrutiny on wind energy projects that benefit from financing provided by public banks and institutions, including the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the German KfW Bank.
Germany wants to avoid public money flowing into projects which use Chinese wind turbine technology and run the risk of undermining national and/or European interests, distorting fair competition, unconformity with ESG-rules.
This would apply to wind energy projects in the EU as well as in wider Europe.
The package of measures is intended to help maintain and expand the strengths of the European wind industry and domestic value creation and to ensure a level playing field.
The next meeting is scheduled to take place as early as the beginning of 2025 to report on implementation.