2023-10-25 07:10:07
Time.news – To achieve the EU objective of having at least 42.5% of renewable energy by 2030, if not the more ambitious target of 45%, it will be necessary to bring the wind capacity installed from 204 Gw in 2022 to over 500 Gw within the decade.
However, insufficient and uncertain demand, slow and complex approvals, lack of access to raw materials, high inflation and raw material prices, unfavorable design of national tenders, increased pressure from international competitors and risks on the availability of qualified workforce, make the path – so far an EU success story – troubled to say the least.
To respond to this challenge the European Commission has adopted a European wind energy action plan to ensure that the transition to clean energy goes hand in hand with industrial competitiveness and sustainability.
Wind energy is an EU success story, but the industry is facing challenging times.
The Commission is taking urgent action today to help the sector to thrive.
We will improve permitting, planning, and access to finance & skills, and ensure a fair international environment. pic.twitter.com/KqZRz8D24T
— Eric Mamer (@MamerEric) October 24, 2023
The plan – according to the intentions of the European executive – will help maintain a healthy and competitive wind energy supply chain, with a clear and secure project pipeline, attracting the necessary financing and competing on a level playing field globally. It is accompanied by a communication on realizing the EU’s ambitions for offshore energy, including wind energy, which follows the EU strategy for offshore renewable energy adopted three years ago. Translated: Accelerate implementation through greater predictability and faster authorizations.
Where is wind energy at?
A record 16 Gw of wind energy installations were added in 2022, a 47% increase compared to 2021. However, this is well below the 37 Gw/year needed to reach the EU 2030 energy target renewable. The Commission is launching the “Accele-Res” initiative with Member States to ensure a rapid implementation of the revised EU rules on renewable energy, focusing more on the digitalisation of authorization processes and technical assistance to Member States.
Furthermore, the Member States are encouraged to improve the visibility of ongoing projects through wind commitments, transparent tender programs and long-term planning. Finally, the Commission will support the necessary strengthening of electricity networks with a Network Action Plan by the end of the year.
Scenarios and resources
To accelerate investment and financing for wind energy production in Europe, the Commission will facilitate access to EU financing, in particular through the Innovation Fund, while the European Investment Bank will provide reduction guarantees of risk.
The Commission also encourages Member States to make full use of the flexibility provided by the amended Temporary Framework on State aid for crisis and transition to support wind energy production in the EU. The challenge is not only internal to the Twenty-Seven.
To ensure that the wind sector can operate on a level playing field, the Commission closely monitors possible unfair trading practices that benefit foreign wind producers and will continue to use trade agreements to facilitate access to foreign markets, while promoting adoption of EU and international standards for the sector.
The Commission will also work with investors to identify and address barriers to investment. Particular attention also goes to offshore wind energy: in 2022, the EU-27’s cumulative offshore installed capacity amounted to 16.3 Gw. This means that to fill the gap between the 111 Gw committed by Member States and the capacity of 2022, on average almost 12 Gw/year must be installed, i.e. 10 times more than the new 1.2 Gw installed last year.
This is why the Commission is redoubling its efforts to specifically support the offshore renewable energy sector, setting out further actions to: strengthen grid infrastructure and regional cooperation, accelerate permitting, ensure integrated maritime spatial planning, strengthen infrastructure resilience, support research and innovation and develop supply chains and skills.
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