WindEurope is calling for key challenges to be addressed to enable wind energy to strengthen energy security and ensure affordable prices.
The trade body, during WindEurope 2023, is calling for the accelerated permitting of wind projects to remove the main bottleneck for the expansion of wind energy.
It estimates 80GW of wind capacity is held up in permitting across Europe.
WindEurope is also calling for support and expansion of the European wind supply chain, claiming it is too small to deliver on the big targets for 2030.
The EU’s Net Zero Industry Act wants to ramp up Europe’s manufacturing capacity for wind turbines to 36 GW/year. This means investments in existing and new factories but also means investments in supportive infrastructure such as grids, ports, vessels – and in the skilled workforce needed to ensure that the energy transition is “made in Europe”.
The trade group has also advocated that increasing renewables build out and biodiversity protection must go hand-in-hand and stated that non-price criteria in national auctions can help introduce innovative technology that will enhance nature protection in wind farms even further.
More than 15 NGOs and numerous representatives of the military are coming to WindEurope 2023 to discuss the sustainable expansion of wind energy.
WindEurope has also called for accelerated grid build out and for optimised use of the electricity grid, requiring a doubling of the rate of annual investments in it.
Executive vice president and chief executive Europe at Orsted Rasmus Errboe said: “It’s time for a new societal contract in offshore wind and renewable energy.
“Orsted is ready to lead a market-driven build out of wind energy based on fair competition and in respect of nature.
“The complexity we face should not stop us from taking the next step forward. Together, let’s open the path to progress.”
Chief executive Offshore Wind at RWE Sven Utermöhlen added: “What we need is a targeted action plan and cost-reflective offshore wind auction designs.
“Only with the right investment framework can offshore wind create valuable jobs in the future and deliver long-term low-price electricity.”
Executive Vice President and CSO at Vestas Wind Systems Javier Rodriguez Diez said it is time to speed up permitting.
“More permitted wind projects can spark investment in scale, while faster permitting for industry and infrastructure can accelerate growth,” he said.
“For a future where European energy is more resilient, sustainable and secure, we need to start with solving our permitting challenge.”
The WindEurope Annual Event 2023 comes one day after 10 heads of state and government met in Ostend, Belgium, to agree a rapid build-out of offshore wind in the North Seas.