We were very concerned to learn that the Commission has decided to request an arbitration tribunal
on the UK closure of industrial sandeel fishing, under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
(TCA).
This undermines the UK and EU’s ability to deliver large-scale ecosystem recovery in the North Sea and risks slowing down offshore renewables deployment.
Joint statements
See more Advocacy content in the Members Area such as National Energy & Climate Plans, Advocacy and Meeting reports.
- Joint Letter – Support for UK closure of industrial sandeel fishing in the North Sea December 2024
- Antwerp Dialogue on Industrial Electrification and Competitiveness – Recommendations December 2024
12 leading European industrial and energy associations have made key recommendations to tackle the high energy prices and the costs faced by energy intensive industries in the EU. Participants express full support for a European Industrial Deal to complement the Green Deal and strive to keep high quality jobs for European workers in Europe.
- Joint Statement – Electrification Alliance’s recommendations for the Clean Industrial Deal October 2024
The Electrification Alliance has published its recommendations for the Clean Industrial Deal.
Electrification must power the Clean Industrial Deal. Electrification improves the EU’s resilience, and unlocks flexibility and cost savings. However, electrification progress has been stalling, with a share of between 22%-23% of final energy use across the EU over the last decade.
The Electrification Alliance is outlining 6 recommendations on how the Clean Industrial Deal should incorporate electrification’s essential role in decarbonising industry, creating a competitive and strong industrial base in Europe.
- Joint Letter – Paving the way for efficient electricity exchanges between the EU and the UK October 2024
Political leaders in the EU and the UK have reconfirmed their respective ambition for the Green Transition and for closer cooperation in the field of energy. This political willingness to commonly find solutions for the offshore developments of the North Seas was also recognised in the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) 2023-2024 Action Agenda.
- Joint statement on Clarification on aggregation and Compliance Scheme in Network Code Requirements for Generators (NC RfG) August 2024
Two unclear provisions in the NC RfG: 1) Aggregation of multiple technologies behind single connection points, and 2) compliance scheme for national implementation of the network code can significantly hinder renewable energy investments and consolidation of EU internal energy market.
WindEurope, EUGINE, Cogen Europe, Europgen, EUTurbines, SolarPowerEurope and VAZ e.V. call on the ACER and the European Commission to:
- Modify recital 11 with two main objectives: clarify the issue with synchronous technology regarding units and modules; and clarify the ambiguity for the aggregation rules of non-synchronously connected power generating units into a PPM or ESM.
- Impose a clear timeline and responsibility to propose a compliance scheme as well as opening certification schemes and requirements as a door opener for enhanced compliance in the European power system.
- Joint Statement – Call to recognise EV battery manufacturers’ Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) July 2024
In a joint statement WindEurope alongside corporate renewable energy buyers, producers, and energy transition leaders, is calling for urgent action from the EU to recognise EV battery manufacturer’s PPAs.
- Joint Statement – an ambitious R&I programme for Europe’s competitiveness July 2024
More than 100 industry and research associations call on the European institutions to significantly increase the proposed budget for the EU’s next research and innovation funding programme (FP10).
The importance of EU investments in research and innovation must be enshrined in the next EU budget. And should at minimum meet the target of spending 3% of GDP in research and innovation. The EU should establish more long-term public-private partnerships to support EU competitiveness and retain EU technological leadership in wind energy and other strategic sectors.
- Joint Statement – Coupling the EU Green Deal with an Industrial Deal June 2024
Cefic, Eurofer, Eurometaux, Cembureau and WindEurope call on the European Union to couple the EU Green Deal with an Industrial Deal. This will empower industry to make the necessary investments to decarbonise while boosting competitiveness. It is the best strategy to provide regulatory coherence and stability to Europe’s businesses and citizens. And secure Europe’s prosperity.
- Joint Letter – A blanket ban on PFAS puts EU decarbonisation goals at risk June 2024
The European power sector supports EU efforts to reduce the use of PFAS. Wherever possible the industry commits to avoiding the use of these substances. But not all PFAS are the same and they can have very different environmental impacts. Any proposed ban on PFAS must be realistic and differentiate between each compound, their function, uses and effects. And consider the impact a ban could have on the availability of electrical equipment used in generation, transmission, and distribution networks. All of which are critical to reaching the EU’s climate & energy goal.
- Renewable Energy Skills Partnership statement on policy recommendations and best practices for addressing the skills challenge June 2024
With the closing of the European Year of Skills, the Renewable Energy Skills Partnership has identified 4 priorities with 18 recommendations, to address the skills shortage and build a future-ready workforce including best practice examples from across Europe related to renewable energy trainings. The Partnership is calling on the European Commission to prioritise renewable energy skills and workforce building in policymaking, boost the visibility and attractiveness of technical, scientific, and engineering careers in the renewables sector, foster recognition and mobility in educational pathways and the job market and ensure a strong and swift response to skills needs. The Partnership, comprised of renewable energy associations and clean technology installers, was launched in March 2023, to identify the skills measures needed to deliver our climate and energy security goals.
- Joint Letter – Redesign the Innovation Fund to support clean energy technologies May 2024
The Innovation Fund is an incredible financing tool to drive Europe’s transition towards climate neutrality while fostering the bloc’s competitiveness. It is also a unique tool that can directly invest EU funding in support of the Union’s climate & energy priorities.
Yet the Innovation Fund does manage to offer support to renewable energy projects that apply for funding. About two third of the funding allocated so far has been for carbon capture and storage and energy-intensive industries.
Together with five other clean energy technology associations we call for a redesign of the Innovation Fund to include a dedicated call exclusive to renewable technologies and storage.
- Joint Letter – The Net-Zero Industry Act must set technology-specific rules for government renewables tenders January 2024
In order to strengthen resilience in the wind and solar supply chains, the NZIA must develop a technology-specific approach to pre-qualification and non-price award criteria in government auctions, in recognition of the very different starting points in both technologies’ supply chains.
- Joint Letter on the extension of inframarginal revenue caps December 2023
Just over a year after the publication of the emergency measures on wholesale electricity market interventions, inframarginal revenue caps continue to harm investments in clean energy sources. In a joint letter with Eurelectric, EFET, RE-Source and SolarPower Europe we urge the EU Commission to take action and enforce the deadline outlined in Emergency Regulation 2022/1854, and for the Energy Ministers and the Members of the European Parliament not to prolong the measures at national level or in the reform of the Electricity Market Design.
The decision to cap inframarginal revenue caps as a reaction to the 2022 energy crisis is irrelevant in current market conditions because the measure is an obstacle to investments in clean energy sources – as correctly identified by the Commission, ACER, corporate energy buyers and suppliers.
- Joint Letter calling for an independent European Network of Network Operators for Hydrogen (ENNOH) November 2023
The joint letter, co-signed by the Renewable Hydrogen Coalition, WindEurope, SolarPower Europe, CAN Europe and E3G, calls on co-legislators to ensure a level playing field for new renewable hydrogen players during the negotiations on the Hydrogen & Decarbonised Gas Package by establishing a dedicated entity (European Network of Network Operators for Hydrogen — ENNOH).
Empowering an impartial authority to orchestrate the rapid ascent of renewable hydrogen is key for building cost-effective, purpose-driven and adequate hydrogen infrastructure which meets the needs of hard-to-electrify sectors in a fully transparent and integrated way, without conflict of interests.
The new entity must carefully and independently evaluate future network requirements based on sound scientific analysis and economic forecasts. It must collaborate with ENTSO-E, ENTSOG and ACER on the long-term integrated network development planning for the most energy- and cost-efficient decarbonisation solutions.
This letter sent in November 2023 follows our previous letter sent in July 2023.
- Joint Letter – Europe’s clean technology industries & key materials suppliers call for EU Clean Industrial Deal October 2023
Eight of Europe’s most influential trade associations jointly call for urgent and comprehensive action from the European Commission and Member State governments to maximise the growth potential of the Green Deal and ensure a compelling business case for clean energy supply chains in Europe, from the raw material to the product. The letter is signed by the following associations: Cefic, EUROBAT, EUROFER, Eurometaux, Hydrogen Europe, RECHARGE, SolarPower Europe and WindEurope.
- Electrification Alliance Manifesto October 2023
Together with the Electrification Alliance, WindEurope has launched a new Electrification Manifesto which calls for an Electrification Action Plan in the first 100 days of the upcoming European Commission mandate. The Manifesto outlines key action points to accelerate the direct electrification of Europe’s economy.
- Joint statement on the importance of fluoropolymers for the clean energy transition and the EU’s Net Zero Industry October 2023
This document is represents the view of the key sectors needed to achieve the EU’s strategic autonomy and to enable the digital and clean energy transitions, including Net Zero technologies that are necessary to reach the EU’s climate and energy objectives. To avoid the dire consequences for the EU’s clean technology sectors, with this joint statement on the importance of fluoropolymers for the clean energy and digital transitions and the EU’s Net Zero Industry, we call on the ECHA and the European Commission to consider an exemption for fluoropolymers from the universal PFAS restriction
- Renewable Energy Skills Partnership statement on the European Net-Zero Academies. October 2023
The Renewable Energy Skills partnership has issued 10 recommendations to the European Commission on the establishment of Net-Zero Industry Academies, as proposed by the Commission in the Net-Zero Industry Act. The Partnership is calling on the Commission to include industry in the establishment of the academies, to provide the necessary funding, and to address urgent skills shortages, amongst other measures. The Partnership, comprised of renewable energy associations and clean technology installers, was launched in March 2023, to identify the skills measures needed to deliver our climate and energy security goals.
- Joint statement on zero-emission building definition in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) September 2023
In order to be a meaningful and practically applicable legislation, the EPBD must recognise the importance of grid-delivered decarbonised energy.
Eurelectric, WindEurope, the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), smartEn, E.DSO and Avere, representing a wide coalition of industry groups, strongly emphasise the need for acknowledging carbon-free energy delivered through the electricity grid as a fully compliant source of power for zero-emission buildings (ZEB) in the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).
- Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Package – safeguarding the ENNOH July 2023
The co-signatories of this Joint letter call on the co-legislators to ensure a level playing field for new renewable hydrogen players during the negotiations on the Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Package by establishing an independent hydrogen network development entity (European Network of Network Operators for Hydrogen – ENNOH).
Due to its chemical and economic characteristics, renewable hydrogen will not replace fossil gas one-for-one, and therefore cannot be governed in the same way. An independent ENNOH should govern the ramp-up of this dedicated infrastructure for the transport of renewable hydrogen. ENNOH must be run by hydrogen network operators, whose mission and interest are solely in planning a cost-efficient and proportionate hydrogen infrastructure development, with no conflicts of interest.
The new entity must carefully and independently evaluate future network requirements based on sound scientific analysis and economic forecasts. It must collaborate with ENTSO-E, ENTSOG and ACER on the long-term integrated network development planning for the most energy- and cost-efficient decarbonisation solutions.
- WindEurope’s position paper on cement co-processing as a sustainable solution for recycling end-of-life composite materials July 2023
The wind sector could generate about 15,000 tonnes of blade waste in Europe each year in the period 2020-2023. By 2030 this could amount to 60,000 tonnes a year. In the same year close to 67 GW of wind energy installed capacity could reach the end of its designed lifetime of 20 years. Cement co-processing offers a sustainable and circular solution to this issue. Recycling end-of-life glass fibre reinforced composite materials can immediately be deployed at large scale. But we need a strong supporting regulatory framework to overcome the barriers.
We therefore call on European policymakers to:
- Recognise co-processing as a Recycling Process according to the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC for its raw material recyclability.
- Develop an EU-wide harmonised model for a separate waste collection scheme for end-of-life composite materials to simplify waste management, improve efficiency of resource flows, and ensure better access to secondary materials for the cement industry.
- Establish dedicated waste codes for end-of-life composite materials. This is an essential pre-requirement to improve visibility of and access to the relevant waste streams (including volumes and location) and attract investments. A position paper dedicated to this topic is currently under preparation.
- Phase out the landfilling of end-of-life composite materials from the wind energy and boating sectors and promote the development of sustainable recycling alternatives for all composite materials
- Joint statement against further prolongation of the inframarginal revenue cap June 2023
The EU electricity industry calls on Member States not to prolong the EU emergency measures on power market interventions – in particular inframarginal revenue caps – adopted in the midst of the energy crisis last year. Neither should they embedding it in the Market Design Reform. It has proved toxic to the very much needed investments in renewables and other technologies that will deliver Europe’s net zero ambition. Protecting households and businesses against a repeating energy crisis must go through developing long-term contracts on wholesale markets and targeted regulated retail prices in the event on a future electricity price crisis.
- Joint reaction to the EP ITRE report on the Net-Zero Industry Act: Keeping the NZIA focused on Clean tech manufacturing in the EU June 2023
WindEurope joins nine other leading European associations representing strategic net-zero technologies and civil society organisations in the call for the Net Zero Industry Act to stay focused on European clean tech manufacturing.
MEP Ehler in his draft ITRE report proposes to replace the list of strategic net-zero technologies under Annex I with ‘any technology’ which could contribute to climate change mitigation under Article 10 (1) of the Taxonomy Regulation. Such proposal would however undermine the core purpose of the NZIA, namely to “establish the framework of measures for innovating and scaling up the manufacturing capacity of net-zero technologies in the Union”.
- Joint letter on Renewable Energy Directive revision June 2023
Large energy consumers, renewable energy producers, energy flexibility and storage providers, supply chain, and civil society organisations in a joint letter to the Swedish Presidency of the European Council voice their concern about the delayed adoption of the Renewable Energy Directive. They say: Every day that passes without a final Renewable Energy Directive slows the deployment of renewables projects that are badly needed to deliver globally competitive and home-grown energy to European businesses and families.
- Joint Industrial Statement on the Data Act May 2023
This joint letter highlights WindEurope’ s concerns with the European Data Act proposed by the European Commission. The undersigned organisations highlight the outstanding issues to be considered as negotiations between European Institutions on such proposal are to start in June 2023. We call on co-legislators to:
- Harmonise EU energy data sharing rules.
- Build the common energy data space in the Data Act supported by an official data catalogue.
- Protect trade secrets.
- Ensure that a future sector specific law on energy data sharing takes precedence over the General provisions of the Data Act.
- Joint Industry Statement on EU steel safeguard measures May 2023
WindEurope joins a cross-sectoral industry coalition of European steel users which calls on the European Commission to terminate the EU steel safeguard measures as part of the ongoing review to be concluded by 30 June 2023. The safeguard measures constitute an unnecessary and burdensome restriction on our industries’ access to steel, which ultimately hampers Europe’s net-zero transition and our international and domestic competitiveness.
- Industry Declaration – North Sea Summit in Ostend (Belgium) April 2023
Nine Heads of State & Government and the President of the EU Commission met in Ostend to agree new commitments on the build-out of offshore wind in the North Seas. This second North Sea Summit is a follow-up to last year’s Summit of Belgium, Demark, Germany and the Netherlands in Esbjerg. Those four are now joined by the UK, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway and the UK. In an Industry Declaration more than 100 companies, representing the whole value chain of offshore wind and renewable hydrogen in Europe, outline what the nine Governments need to do now to deliver their offshore wind ambitions.
- EU legislators must deliver on faster permitting at the next week’s Renewable Energy Directive trilogue March 2023
The European Commission wants wind to be 43% of EU electricity consumption by 2030. But right now new investments and wind turbine orders are falling: the EU only installed 16 GW of new wind in 2022, half of what it should be building for the 2030 objectives.
Permitting remains the key bottleneck for deploying wind at scale. 80 GW of wind energy are today stuck in permitting processes across Europe and it can take up to 10 years for the permitting of a wind farm.
The EU is now discussing changes to its Renewable Energy Directive that can help speed things up. Key negotiations are taking place on Monday 6 March between the EU Commission, the EU Parliament and the EU-27 Member States.
WindEurope together with Eurelectic and SolarPower Europe outlines 5 outstanding priorities that negotiators should factor in the revision of Europe’s 2030 permitting rules for renewables. These are :
- ‘Overriding public interest’ must apply to all renewables until climate neutrality is reached;
- The pipeline of projects stuck in permitting processes must be unblocked;
- Permitting for projects in and outside of renewable ‘acceleration areas’ must be simultaneous;
- Land use designation rules must allow nature-positive renewable energy deployment;
- Permitting rules must be future-proofed for a 2050 EU energy system dominated by renewables.
- Joint Industry Letter on F-Gas Regulation March 2023
On 5 April 2022, the European Commission made a legislative proposal to revise the F-Gas Regulation in line with the European Green Deal, the European Climate Law and recent international obligations under the Montreal Protocol. In a joint letter the industry outlines its priorities for the regulation.
- Joint Industry Statement – An Electricity Market Design Fit For Net Zero February 2023
With the European Commission’s proposals for a reform of the EU Electricity Market Design expected on 16 March, leading EU Energy Association call for a reform that:
- Preserves the benefits created by the present internal energy market, including wholesale prices which reflect the best use of all available capacities in Europe, greater security of supply and large-scale integration of renewable energy;
- Strengthens investors’ confidence to ensure the necessary investments in renewable, while also keeping the system in balance, fostering sector integration, and contributing to security of supply.
- Enhances the customer contracting and engagement framework by enabling sufficient possibilities for short and long-term hedging as well as enabling and rewarding their flexibility;
- Chemical & wind industries joint statement on electricity markets December 2022
In an open letter sent to the European Commission, WindEurope and Cefic identify key priorities for the upcoming Electricity Market Reform. The joint letter identifies 6 key recommendations how to accelerate the build-out of renewables, speed-up renewables-based electrification and scale up renewable hydrogen.
- WindEurope and SolarPower Europe: Making the Gas Package fit for purpose November 2022
If we are to reach our climate and REPowerEU targets, the European gas market will change substantially from its current form. WindEurope and SolarPower Europe are calling for the EU Gas Package to include a clear definition of low-carbon hydrogen, a level-playing filed for renewables and electrification and an independent planning system for the emerging renewable hydrogen market.
- Wind industry CEOs – Letter on emergency measures for renewables permitting November 2022
As it stands the EU Emergency Regulation would unlock only a small fraction of wind energy projects. Because it would apply to new permits only. For all the permits that are pending, the Emergency Regulation would not help. It would even be a step back compared to the provisions currently discussed between Council and European Parliament as part of the Renewable Energy Directive revision, say more than 20 wind industry CEOs in a joint letter.
- Joint statement on emergency measures on renewables permitting October 2022
At their 20 October European Council, EU Heads of State and Government called on the European Commission to put forth emergency measures for the further simplification of permitting procedures for renewables. SolarPower Europe and WindEurope sent a joint letter to the European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen to outline the measures needed asap to unlock renewable energy capacities that will help address the current energy crisis.
- The Hamburg Declaration on Wind Power’s Response to the Energy and Climate Crises September 2022
Recent geopolitical events have exposed the world’s overreliance on an insecure and volatile fossil fuel supply. This is a wake-up call. Transitioning to a resilient and sustainable energy system with renewable electricity at its core is essential – A joint declaration by BWE, GWEC, VDMA and WindEurope at WindEnergy Hamburg 2022.
- Joint Statement – Renewables to Power post-war Ukraine July 2022
Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine has brought shocking destruction and human suffering to Ukraine. As we look to the future, and rebuilding a strong and sovereign Ukraine, we call for renewable energy to be the core of Ukrainian reconstruction and recovery Ukraine has huge wind and solar potential. We call on the leaders from Ukraine and the European Union to embrace renewables and renewable hydrogen in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction by setting a target of at least 50% of renewables in electricity production by 2030.
- Joint declaration on aspects related to the upcoming EU Action Plan on digitalising the energy sector July 2022
The European Commission is developing an action plan for the digitalisation of the energy sector to be released by the end of 2022. The energy industry, represented by Eurelectric, E.DSO, EHPA, WindEurope and SolarPower Europe, has elaborated some key recommendations on the main drivers that will be leading this transformation. This joint declaration calls upon the Commission to leverage interoperability in data access, control and sharing, to adjust the legislation on privacy and data protection to allow for greater innovation, to ensure consistency and a holistic approach in cybersecurity requirements and to create an enabling regulatory framework for the uptake of digital technologies.
- The Esbjerg Offshore Wind Declaration May 2022
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participated in an Offshore Wind Summit in the Port of Esbjerg (Denmark) with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. In a joint declaration they highlighted the role of home-grown North Sea offshore wind in strengthening the EU’s energy security. They pledged to expand the combined North Sea offshore wind capacity of the four countries to 65 GW by 2030 and 150 GW by 2050.
Read the declaration
Read the detailed Energy Minister Declaration - Joint Statement – The Innovation Fund is not advancing European renewable energy technology May 2022
Not a single renewable energy generation project won an award in the first call for projects for the European Union’s Innovation Fund. And just one renewables manufacturing proposal was awarded funding. WindEurope and other renewable energy associations call upon the European Commission to improve the funding conditions for renewable energy projects.
- Joint Statement – Downstream users of steel ask for termination of the safeguard May 2022
In a Joint Statement WindEurope together with other associations of downstream users call for the EU to terminate the existing safeguard measure on several steel categories. In the light of the record price increases and lack of supply for such indispensable raw material which were further aggravated by the conflict in Ukraine, the European Commission should take the opportunity of the ongoing review investigation to reassess the need for this now unnecessary import limiting measure.
- Joint industry call to safeguard the benefits of the Internal Energy Market April 2022
In a joint statement WindEurope and other associations call on the European Commission and National Governments to rely on and improve the efficiency of energy markets in response to the current energy crisis. The group calls on decision makers to avoid interventions into wholesale energy price formation and focus instead on targeted measures for vulnerable consumers. Ultimately resolving the current crisis requires coherent decision making through coordination at EU level and dialogue with the industry.
- Joint Letter – European energy security needs energy storage April 2022
In a joint letter to the European Commission, WindEurope and other associations advocate for a massive and rapid roll-out of critical enabling technologies in the energy sector, notably energy storage solutions. These solutions are at various levels of technological maturity and Europe has spent significant R&I funding to advance towards market readiness. Without market uptake for these new technologies in step with the deployment of renewables, the EU will be unable to achieve a net-zero power system, and risks continued exposure to volatile fossil energy markets.
- WindEurope 2022: Offshore Wind Declaration April 2022
30 parties signed a statement outlining their commitment to work together for the accelerated deployment of offshore wind in Europe at Wind Europe’s 2022 Annual Event in Bilbao. Accelerating offshore wind will maximise the benefits for European consumers, strengthen security of supply and help drive decarbonisation of the economy and society.
- Joint industry call – Towards zero-emission transport March 2022
Decarbonising road transport is one of the key challenges of the European Green Deal. Moving towards carbon neutral mobility by 2050 will require a strong and concerted set of actions from different industry sectors, policy makers and society. Together ACEA, CLEPA, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers, Eurelectric and ChargeUp Europe, WindEurope called for the right policy framework to kick-start the transitions to net zero-mobility.
- Joint Statement – WindEurope & GWEC comment on the IEA’s 10-point plan to reduce Europe’s energy dependency March 2022
The Global Wind Energy Council (‘GWEC’) and WindEurope, are today jointly responding to the IEA’s 10-point Plan to Reduce the European Union’s Reliance on Russian Natural Gas. The report comes at a time of heightened concern over the security and resilience of national and regional energy systems.
- The Italian clawback measures against renewables pose serious threats to the energy transition in Italy and Europe February 2022
Article 16 of the Italian Law Decree 04/2022 (“DL Sostegni ter”) introduces discriminatory measures between producers of electricity based on generation technology, creates market distortions undermining investor confidence and risks slowing down the energy transition process. Leading Associations representing the electricity sector in Italy and Europe, including WindEurope, are calling on the Italian Government to withdraw Art.16 and to initiate a constructive dialogue to define effective and balanced solutions to tackle high energy prices.
- Energy intensive sectors calling on the European Heads of States and Governments to adopt measures ensuring access to affordable renewable energy October 2021
Ahead of the upcoming European Council Summit, 10 European organisations want to remind the heads of EU states and governments that affordable clean energy is the lifeblood of the European industry. For Europe’s competitiveness on a global scale, the achievement of the “Fit for 55” goals and the transition towards the 2050 climate neutrality objective, it is essential to support measures that enable the availability of abundant and reliable decarbonised energy at affordable cost.
- Joint Statement by the market Participants of the European Market Stakeholder Committee on the increase of gas and electricity prices in Europe October 2021
The increase in wholesale electricity prices that Europe is experiencing is triggering concerns and political debate across the continent. The market Participants of the European Market Stakeholder Committee would like to offer some recommendations.
- Electrification Alliance letter on the increase in wholesale electricity prices in Europe October 2021
The increase in wholesale electricity prices that Europe is experiencing is triggering concerns and political debate across the continent. The Electrification Alliance, an alliance of 10 European associations that firmly believe electrification is the future of the European Union’s energy system, would like to share its insights on the situation and offer you some responses and recommendations.
- Fit for 55% Package: joint position June 2021
The Electrification Alliance establishes the priorities for the Fit for 55 package with dedicated recommendations on key legislative files :
- Carbon pricing and energy taxation e.g. to:
- Ensure a level playing field between energy carriers
- Set standards to avoid double taxation of end-use flexibility solutions
- Renewable energy – revision of the Renewable Energy Directive e.g. to:
- Increase the 2030 renewable energy target to levels in line with the European Commission impact assessment
- Promote and accelerate demand-side flexibility efforts
- Remove obstacles to solar, wind & electricity grid deployment, e.g. in relation to permitting
- Keep the RED II unambiguously for renewable energies
- Energy system efficiency – revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive e.g. to:
- Increase the 2030 energy efficiency target
- Ensure that the energy efficiency first principle is applied at system level
- Review the Primary Energy Factor (PEF) for electricity
- Electrification of buildings – revisions of the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive e.g. to:
- Integrate buildings and transport sectors through direct electrification ready for smart charging
- Increase the required shares of renewables and energy efficiency improvements in heating and cooling systems
- Accelerate the deployment of on-site renewable electricity and demand-side flexibility sources
- Electrification of road transport – revisions of the CO₂ emission performance standards for cars and vans Regulation and the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive e.g. to:
- Tighten the CO₂ emission standards for cars and vans for 2025 and 2030
- Set an ambitious framework for a goal-driven, intelligent and dynamic roll out of charging infrastructure in Europe
- Prioritise roll-out flexible charging infrastructure (smart charging)
- Carbon pricing and energy taxation e.g. to:
- Electrification Alliance response to the revision of the TEN-E regulation March 2021
The Electrification Alliance welcomes the proposal put forward by the European Commission for the revision of the TEN-E Regulation. A revision of the Regulation is much needed in light of the EU’s 2030 and 2050 objectives and in order to channel investments in smart, reliable and efficient infrastructure that can deliver the transition to a net zero economy. There are still a number of areas in which changes could be made to improve the revised TEN-E Regulation, notably on:
- PCI selection criteria;
- Governance; and
- Network optimisation, transformation and decentralisation.
- Power Generation and transmission thresholds in the EU Taxonomy Delegated Act on climate change mitigation and adaption January 2021
Following the publication of the European Commission’s draft Delegated Act on the EU Sustainable Taxonomy, we are writing to express our strong support for the taxonomy thresholds based on climate and environmental science. We welcome the 100g CO2e/kWh life-cycle intensity limit for substantial contribution to climate mitigation, which is derived through a robust and scientific process, and was recommended by TEG. Emissions from fossil fuels are beyond this threshold and we applaud the Commission for upholding it in the draft Delegated Act.
- The Recovery and Resilience Facility: a once in a generation opportunity to prioritise green investments and boost progress towards climate neutrality November 2020
The EU’s renewable energy industries commend the European institutions for agreeing that 37% of Recovery & Resilience Facility funds should be used for climate-related spending. As the discussions enter the trilogue phase WindEurope and eight other renewable energy associations call on the co-legislators to ensure that the Recovery & Resilience Plans are fully consistent with the EU’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and the EU’s own objective of climate neutrality by 2050.
- Electrification Alliance position on the revision of the TEN-E regulation November 2020
The Electrification Alliance welcomes the initiative by the European Commission (EC) to revise the Trans-European Networks – Energy regulation (TEN-E) as part of its Green Deal agenda. The revision offers an important opportunity for the EU to give priority and funding to future-proof Europe’s energy infrastructure, in a cost-effective manner. The priority corridors and areas, as well as the eligibility criteria set out in the TEN-E regulation, were defined in 2013 with market integration and security of supply as the ultimate goal. That approach is no longer in line with the 2030 and 2050 decarbonisation goals. Getting energy infrastructure regulation right is central to reaching these objectives.
- Joint WindEurope-T&D Europe statement on the Expiry Review of the trade measures on grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) October 2020
On 30 October the European Commission announced the start of an Expiry Review of the Minimum Import Price/anti-dumping measures on imports of grain-oriented electrical steel that have been in place since 2015. It is estimated that the measures have caused up to a double-digit percentage increase in the costs for transformers, substantially increasing the cost of the clean energy transition and directly impacting the viability and competitiveness of the EU transformer industry. T&D Europe and WindEurope previously asked the Commission to allow the measures to lapse without review. WindEurope and T&D Europe have published a joint statement expressing disappointment with the European Commission’s decision to proceed with a review.
- Joint letter on the Recovery & Resilience Facility October 2020
The Recovery & Resilience Facility should channel funding towards renewable, smart, and efficient electricity-based solutions that deliver a green and digital recovery and a just transition. It should exclude support for fossil fuel investments that generate stranded assets.
- European standards for safe and secure truck parking areas and widening the scope to zero-emission trucks and refrigerated trailers July 2020
The ongoing European Commission initiative to develop new standards for safe and secure truck parking areas in Europe, is highly relevant, to ensure safe and good resting conditions for European truck drivers. We therefore very much welcome this initiative. However, in the context of the European Green Deal and given the urgency to decarbonise the road transport sector to reach climate neutrality in 2050, we are concerned that the current needs of refrigerated trailers and the future needs of zero-emission trucks are not taken into account.
The signatories of the letter therefore ask for:
- plug-in stations for refrigerated trucks for all new parking areas and the ones undergoing important upgrades;
- an assessment of the existing grid capacity of the parking areas to be able to plan ahead future needs of zero-emission trucks ; and
- EU funding to be linked to these standards, i.e. only parking areas offering this services and providing this information should have access to CEF funding for Safe and Secure Truck Parking.
- Electrification Alliance letter on channeling the resources of the Just Transition Fund towards renewable, smart and electric-based solutions to deliver a green recovery and fair transition July 2020
The Just Transition Fund (JTF) is a key pillar of the Green Deal to address the disproportionate effects that the energy transition may have on some regions, jobs and economic activities in the EU. In particular, the JTF offers a lifeline to Europe’s most vulnerable regions and is essential to support those with a different starting point in the decarbonisation journey.
To be an instrument of solidarity, the Fund must accelerate the deployment of clean solutions that deliver decarbonisation, are cost-effective and create the jobs and skills of the future in coal regions and across the EU. These solutions include smart electric based solutions and related infrastructure1, renewables, circular economy and environmental remediation.
The members of the Electrification Alliance call on the European Parliament to ensure that the JTF supports the deployment of renewable, smart and electric-based solutions rather than any unsustainable continued use of fossil fuels, including natural gas. - Taking an integrated approach to building decarbonisation in the EU: 10 Principles for a successful Renovation Wave June 2020
The Electrification Alliance welcomes the upcoming Renovation Wave initiative of the European Commission. We believe that the following 10 principles will help make it a success and speed-up the full decarbonisation of the EU building stock:
- Acknowledge the multiple benefits for EU citizens and the energy system
- Take an ambitious approach to building renovation and electrification
- Prioritise the electrification of heating and cooling in buildings
- Accelerate on-site renewable electricity generation
- Deploy e-mobility smart charging infrastructure
- Foster the demand-side flexibility of buildings
- Align internal electrical installations with a higher level of ambition and safety
- Encourage innovative business models enabled by digitalization
- Set up up-to-date skills programmes for workers
- Make the best use of the Clean Energy Package laws
- EU and UK trade bodies call for an efficient future EU-UK energy relationship June 2020
WindEurope has joined with the British Irish Chamber of Commerce, the European Federation of Energy Traders, the Electricity Association of Ireland, Energy UK, and Eurelectric to call on the EU and the UK to ensure maximum continuity with existing provisions applicable to the EU-UK energy relationship. Key to this will be comparable systems of carbon pricing, regulatory cooperation, safeguarding the Single Electricity Market on the island of Ireland, guaranteeing continued cross-border trading, and maintaining cooperation on offshore grid projects in the North Seas. Naturally, the Paris Agreement commitments must underpin legislation and targets from both sides.
- Contribution from the Electrification Alliance on the Smart Sector Integration Strategy May 2020
The Electrification Alliance welcomes the initiative by the European Commission to set out a comprehensive strategy for smart sector integration, which, we believe, can greatly contribute to a “green” and “digital” recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. Enhanced smart sector integration is mostly a matter of making electrification work. Direct electrification must be the top priority of the Strategy as we must ramp up rates of direct electrification from today’s 24% to at least 50% by 2050. Investing in power grids and in the technologies and supply chains that will deliver climate neutrality must be central to the EU’s plan for a speedy and future-proof recovery.
Here are the 5 priorities of the Alliance for a successful roadmap on the Smart Sector Integration Strategy:
- Prioritise direct electrification, as it is the most cost-effective way to decarbonise the EU economy
- Enhance demand-side flexibility across all sectors to smartly manage an energy system with large shares of renewables and reduce costs for grid extension
- Accelerate the deployment of a smart and climate-resilient electricity grid infrastructure
- Revise the Energy Taxation Directive to ensure that all energy sources can compete on an equal footing, promote clean innovative technologies and ensure competitive energy costs in Europe
- Allow renewable-based indirect electrification to play a key role for “harder to abate” sectors
- Joint letter from the European renewable energy industries on permitting for new renewables investments May 2020
Getting the permitting of renewables investments right will be critical to deliver the European Green Deal. Permitting for new and repowered renewable energy projects remains today too complex to unlock the scale of renewable energy capacities required to kick start the European economy post COVID-19 and to meet Europe’s 2030 & 2050 energy & climate targets. The European renewable energy industries called on the European Commission to ensure Member States 1) transpose and enforce the new EU rules on simplified permitting for 2030; 2) beef up administrative and human resources to process permit applications and 3) ensure the industry can deploy the most efficient technology available for a specific site.
- Call to EU leaders: an EU Green Recovery to restart Europe March 2020
As the fight against COVID-19 has brought the EU economy close to a standstill, together with 37 signatories from Europe’s electricity, heating, cooling, building and transport sectors, WindEurope calls for the European institutions to stand behind the European Green Deal to restart Europe. The EU institutions should fully integrate the proposed national and European economic packages with the European Green deal and help accelerate the necessary investments, notably to drive a renewable-based electrification.
- Comments from the Electrification Alliance on the ENTSO-E and ENTSO-G draft TYNDP 2020 scenario report February 2020
Formed in 2017, the Electrification Alliance brings together AVERE, Eurelectric, European Climate Foundation, European Copper Institute, European Heat Pump Association, Europe-On, smartEn, SolarPower Europe and WindEurope calling for clean electricity to be recognised as the key energy carrier for an efficient and decarbonised European future. In doing so, the Alliance members are working towards enabling technologies to advance Europe’s competitiveness, economic growth, job creation, and the promotion of a sustainable society for European citizens.
The Electrification Alliance is concerned regarding the joint ENTSOs’ Ten-Year Network Development Plan draft scenario report for 2020 (TYNDP 2020) on the preliminary results. Therefore, the members of the Electrification Alliance do not consider the current TYNDP 2020 scenarios as a relevant basis for future energy infrastructure prioritisation, including the 5th PCI list. We invite the European Commission to take the initiative and the opportunity to fast-track the revision of the relevant EU infrastructure regulations.
- Delivering green growth for Europe: an EU industrial strategy for renewables February 2020
Reaching climate-neutrality by 2050 means the EU will be increasingly reliant on the supply of innovative and cost-competitive renewables. 10 leading European renewable energy associations have joined forces to highlight the strategic importance of renewables for the delivery of the EU Green Deal and how an industrial strategy for renewables can boost their deployment.
- Letter from the Electrification Alliance on the next European Commission work programme March 2019
Formed in 2017, the Electrification Alliance brings together a variety of stakeholders calling for clean electricity to be recognised as the key energy carrier for an efficient and decarbonised European future. In doing so, the Alliance members are working towards enabling technologies to advance Europe’s competitiveness, economic growth, job creation, and the promotion of a sustainable society for European citizens.
In this regard, the new Commission should demonstrate ambitious climate and industrial leadership during its next term in order to deliver on the ambition of the Long Term Strategy. This letter lays out a series of measures to achieve a deep decarbonisation of the EU economy based on renewables-based electrification.
- Joint letter on climate earmarking in Horizon Europe February 2019
WindEurope and other trade associations and technology platforms on renewable energy have sent a letter to the Council of the European Union ahead of this week’s Working Party meetings on the Horizon Europe programme. The signatories call on the council representatives to support a more robust target of 35% for climate related research & innovation in the upcoming framework programme. Climate mainstreaming deserves clear and consistent governance. Innovation policy must supply new technology to bring down the investment cost of decarbonising the European energy system.
- Joint letter for ENVI resolution on EU 2050 Strategy January 2019
WindEurope and other trade associations sent a letter to Members of the European Parliament ahead of the vote of the ENVI committee on a resolution regarding the EU 2050 climate strategy. The signatories call for acknowledging the key role of demand-side flexibility to enable the clean energy transition. In most scenarios proposed by the European Commission the shares of variable renewable energy sources is set to increase. Ensuring decentralised energy resources (demand response, storage, self-generation…) can interact with the electricity system through smart and digital solutions will provide the necessary flexibility to integrate renewables in a cost-efficient way while delivering consumers with significant costs savings.
- Joint letter on energy & climate in Brexit Political Declaration November 2018
WindEurope and a wide range of signatories sent a letter to the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, Dominic Raab and the European Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier calling for energy and climate change to be included in the Brexit Political Declaration.
- Unleashing distributed flexibility into the grid November 2018
The right Electricity Market Design is key to enable the achievement of a successful and cost-efficient energy transition. Grasping all the benefits provided by shorter and more dynamic electricity markets and building a future-proofed electricity grid infrastructure is needed to provide robust, smart, flexible and ready solutions to integrate more renewables and efficient distributed generation, while optimizing the overall efficiency of Europe’s electricity system.
- Enabling the uptake of decentralised storage and demand response September 2018
Decentralised demand response and energy storage at commercial and residential level, including electric vehicles, can greatly facilitate the integration of ever larger shares of variable renewables in the grid. As EU energy ministers gather in Linz on 17/18 September to discuss the reform of electricity market design, co-signatories of this declaration call on Member States to grasp the immediate opportunity provided by this reform to unlock their vast potentials. Specific recommendations include: simultaneous participation in all markets individually or through aggregators, inclusion in grid planning process and clearer ownership rules by regulated entities for storage assets.
- Prioritising EU27 / UK cooperation on climate change and energy September 2018
EU27 and UK businesses point to a sensible landing point for Brexit negotiations on energy and climate change. Specific recommendations include: UK/EU post Brexit cooperation on setting long-term GHG emission targets; For climate change and energy to be addressed together in a comprehensive Climate and Energy Chapter so that respective EU and UK climate and energy interests can be balanced; Agreement to prioritise delivering zero tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade between the EU27 and UK in low carbon goods and services; Agreement to no tariffs on energy trading, efficient trading arrangements across UK/EU interconnectors and cooperation in developing markets for shared electricity balancing services.
- Keeping EU energy and emissions markets protected from VAT fraud beyond 2018 September 2018
Missing Trader Intra-Community Value Added Tax fraud remains a persistent threat to the integrity and well-functioning of electricity, gas and emission allowance markets in Europe1. Billions of euros had been defrauded from European Exchequers before the Council of the EU decided on the introduction of a derogation from the VAT Directive2 for electricity, gas and emission allowance transactions. The derogation enables Member States to apply the Domestic Reverse Charge Mechanism (DRCM) to these goods and services. Should the existing derogation not be proactively prolonged by the Council before the end of the year, it will automatically expire at midnight on 31 December 2018 as stipulated in the built-in sunset clause in Article 199a3 of the VAT Directive.
- Governance Coalition letter June 2018
Ahead of the final negotiation round on the Governance Regulation on 19 June, leading organisations call on European institutions to deliver a robust governance system for the Energy Union. The post-2020 governance regime should ensure long-term climate and energy strategies are in line with the Paris agreement, should provide adequate measures to deliver on EU targets and should support integrated planning for the energy transition.
- Brexit coalition letter April 2018
As leading European and UK companies and investors, we recognise that climate change poses one of the greatest long-term threats to our economies and societies. We strongly urge both the UK and EU27 to commit to continuing to work together to meet the commitments set out in the Paris Agreement, in any future relationship. To ensure this is achieved, we call on you, in the Brexit negotiations, to develop a comprehensive Climate and Energy Chapter, which covers both trade and non-trade issues.
- The Electrification Alliance on the Mobility Package March 2018
Transport is the only sector in Europe in which emissions have increased in the last decades. Today,
transport emissions are nearly 20% higher than in 1990, while European transport needs are expected to grow significantly until 2050.Without ambitious action, transport is set to be the biggest GHG emitter in Europe by 2030.
In parallel, from 1990 till 2015, the carbon intensity of electricity in Europe decreased by more than
33% and is on track to complete carbon-neutrality well before 2050. - Open letter from the Eletrification Alliance on the Multi-Annual Financial Framework March 2018
The co-signatories of this letter represent a broad cross-section of European interests striving to support the EU’s efforts to meet its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We highlight the opportunities coming from the smart and efficient electrification of European energy use as a means to achieving the EU’s climate commitments while improving its competitiveness, creating high quality jobs, and asserting global industrial leadership in the development and deployment of new technologies.
Electrification is further driven by trends in the economy on fuel efficiency, digitalisation and automation, which in turn can make technology work for vulnerable sectors of society such as low income households, local actors and SMEs. It is also a driver for cost reductions and increasing shares of renewables.
We would like to express the importance of aligning the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) post-2020 with these commitments and opportunities, which we believe requires the European Commission to revisit its approach to energy infrastructure spending.
- Joint statement on Guarantees of Origin February 2018
The signatories of this statement believe that Guarantees of Origin (GOs) are a reliable instrument to track and prove to consumers that a given share of electricity supplied to their home or business comes from renewable sources.
The Clean Energy Package offers a unique opportunity to strengthen the GO system as more countries, consumers, and electricity suppliers begin to use it . As both European Parliament and Council have now agreed on their respective positions on the Renewable Energy Directive, this paper aims to draw the attention of policy makers to some key issues ahead of the trilogue negotiations.
- Joint statement on regulated retail prices February 2018
WindEurope and other associations from the power sector call on the European Parliament and the Council to phase out regulated prices as part of the ongoing reform of the Electricity Directive. Enabling consumers to base their decisions during scarcity periods on market price signals is essential to further develop demand response and drive a cost-effective integration of renewables into the power system.
The persistence of regulated electricity tariffs is one the reason why consumers have not fully benefited from the downward trend that wind power produces on the wholesale market. The future electricity market design should seek for an increased link between wholesale prices and retail prices in order to guarantee such pass-through effect to consumers.
- Joint industry letter for a simple and effective ‘Smartness Indicator’ November 2017
WindEurope has joined efforts with other industry associations and NGOs from the energy, manufacturing, standardisation, construction and building sectors to raise the need for an effective smartness indicator for buildings. This indicator is introduced by the proposal for a revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. It aims at indicating a building’s ability to actively manage its internal, self-generation and/or storage for both heat and electricity. The European Commission is now working with a consortium of consultancies led by VITO on a joint study that should develop a common definition and methodology for this indicator.
WindEurope and other associations call on the consortium to focus on active measures of flexibility in their study, and not the passive efficiency measures within a building which are already addressed by the Energy Performance Certificate. This would be the best way to ensure that the indicator becomes a meaningful tool for building owners and occupants in order to unlock the vast flexibility of Europe’s building stock, and eventually support the wider energy system to integrate larger shares of renewables.
- Strengthening the regional approach to system operation to boost renewables’ integration October 2017
Europe needs to integrate ever-growing shares of renewable energy sources into the wholesale power market. This path is a no brainer for Europe and for the signatories of this statement.
Today however, a number of hurdles are in the way of reaching this goal. This is in particular the case for cross-border capacity allocation. As wholesale markets are increasingly interconnected and coupled, further progress is fundamentally needed to reach the objective of a truly integrated Internal Energy Market.
In particular, we call for on policy-makers to support a step-wise regional approach to system operation that optimise social welfare beyond national borders.
- Support a reliable regulatory framework for renewable energies in Europe October 2017
The Clean Energy Package for all Europeans is an ambitious response to the climate challenges we are facing in Europe today.
The ongoing decarbonisation, decentralisation and digitalisation of the energy sector offer ample of opportunities, as electricity becomes increasingly decarbonised and electrification of all sectors of the European economy progresses.
The signatories of this statement call on the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union to support the development of a stable and predictable regulatory framework for renewable energies.
- European wind energy sets out concerns on a new governance mechanism in Clean Energy Package October 2017
The wind industry today issued a letter to the European Council, setting out concerns regarding the ongoing Council deliberations on a new governance mechanism in the context of the Clean Energy Package.
The European wind industry can make a substantial contribution to the energy transition. Onshore wind is now the cheapest form of new power generation capacity, and offshore is not far behind. Technology developments have also made it much easier and cheaper to integrate variable renewables in the energy system. Wind creates growth and jobs (now 300,000 across Europe) and reduces fossil fuel imports. And of course it also reduces CO2 emissions.
