WindEurope Bulletin
WindEurope Bulletin October 2023
6 October 2023
CEO Foreword
Dear WindEurope Member,
Many of you will have seen that WindEurope has a new Chair and Vice-Chair. A warm welcome respectively to our new Chair, José Luis Blanco, CEO of Nordex, and our new Vice-Chair, Alfredo Parres, Head of Renewables at Hitachi Energy. And congratulations to them both on their election. Many thanks also to Sven Utermöhlen – our outgoing Chair – and Kresten Ørnbjerg – our outgoing Vice-Chair – for their exemplary leadership during these turbulent 18 months.
This handover has coincided with a crucial development … In her annual State of the (European) Union address, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen singled out the role of wind in the energy transition and how wind has been a “European success story”. She also highlighted the “unique set of challenges” facing our industry today and announced that, to tackle these challenges the Commission will bring forward a dedicated Wind Power Package. She said the Package will set out new actions on:
- Fast-tracking permitting more than current legislation already does;
- Improving auction systems in Member States; and
- Skills, access to finance, and stable supply chains.
The underlying message was crystal clear. The European Commission don’t want Europe’s wind industry to go down the same route as its (former) solar PV industry. Von der Leyen spelt it out – “the future of our clean tech industry has to be made in Europe”.
The Commission is now going to present the Wind Power Package on 24 October. We are working closely with them on the detail. Our key points are:
- on permitting, to accelerate the implementation of the new EU rules on e.g. “overriding public interest”, the 2-year deadline and the requirement to digitalise permitting processes; and
- on auctions, to ensure full indexation of prices, more use of non-price criteria and a major strengthening of pre-qualification criteria, with new minimum standards that should apply to non-auction projects too. And to push back against negative bidding.
It’s good the Commission are prioritising skills in the Package. To meet the EU’s new 2030 energy targets, we need to see a significant increase in European wind industry jobs. That means a whole new approach to expanding our workforce. We’re holding a special webinar on this on 10 October – more on that here.
But fixing the supply chain is top of our agenda right now. Chinese turbine manufacturers have started to win orders in Europe – most recently in Serbia. They’re offering cheaper turbines and unconventional financial terms. If we’re to avoid outsourcing our energy transition to China – and undermining our energy security – the Wind Power Package will have to flag how the Commission will work to establish a level playing field and correct unfair commercial practices.
At the same time we need a bigger push on electrification. We’re working hard to decarbonise our electricity, but less than a quarter of all energy consumed in Europe is electric. The rest comes from fossil fuels – much of it imported. Our climate and energy goals will count for little unless we electrify. WindEurope and the other members of the Electrification Alliance will launch a new Manifesto on this on 23 October. It calls for an EU Electrification Action Plan, with a target of 35% electricity in the energy mix by 2030. And a rapid expansion of Europe’s power grids.
Finally a quick reminder of our events this quarter. RE-Source’s annual gathering on green energy procurement returns to Amsterdam from 26-27 October – with 1,200+ participants and 280+ energy buyers. And EoLIS – WindEurope’s annual seminar on the turbine end-of-life and circularity debate is heading to Rotterdam from 22-23 November – more on that below. You can register here.
Kind regards,
Giles Dickson
Members Successes
Members of the UK Parliament visit DTEK Tyligulska Wind Power Plant
The delegation from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ukraine in the UK Parliament visited DTEK Tyligulska Wind Power Plant located in Mykolaiv Oblast. The delegation was led by Alex Sobel, MP, Vice Chair of the Group.
The MPs expressed interest in visiting DTEK Renewables’ wind farm, as they wanted to see the wind power project completed during the full-scale war raging in Ukraine.
Representatives of DTEK Renewables expressed their gratitude to their foreign partners for the assistance that the UK has extended to Ukraine, not only in the military and humanitarian areas but also in the energy sector. They also asked the MPs to help find investors interested in decarbonisation projects undertaken in the Ukrainian energy sector – in particular, for the construction of Phase II of the Tyligulska wind power plant.
“We were delighted to welcome such distinguished guests to the Tyligulska wind farm. During the visit, we wanted not only to provide useful and interesting information but also apprise international investors about the opportunities and prospects for the development of renewable energy projects that exist in Ukraine despite the war. We are currently looking for the funding required to complete Phase II of the 384 MW Tyligulska wind power plant,” said Oleksandr Selyshchev, CEO of DTEK Renewables.
Chief Power Engineer Maksym Bohaditsia took the foreign guests on a tour of the facility. He told the MPs all the details of the construction project and the challenges the team had to face during the war.
DTEK Renewables is determined to finish construction of the DTEK Tyligulska WPP in Mykolaiv region. The second phase of the wind farm construction envisages 384 MW of capacity, which means 64 wind turbines will be installed bringing the power plant’s design capacity up to 500 MW. The company is holding procurement procedures to define the wind turbine supplier. DTEK Renewables is working to attract investments to complete the construction of DTEK Tyligulska WPP, providing more green electricity to Ukrainians and helping the country achieve its target of 30 GW of green power generation by 2030.
Share your successes with us!
Is your brand bringing new, ground-breaking solutions to the wind industry? Have you recently launched a major project in your field? Do you have positive business news to share?
Then make sure to get in touch with us here at WindEurope – we’ll be happy to promote your success story as part of our monthly Bulletin! This is a chance to share your accomplishments with thousands of others from right across the wind energy value chain – a major visibility boost.
Please be aware that this service is only available to members from the categories C3 and above. Publication of stories is on a first come, first served basis.
Get in touch with our Membership team now to send in your news!
Member’s interview: Jungle AI
This month, we sat down with Arnoud Kamerbeek, CEO of Jungle AI, to look at their role in enhancing wind farm operations, how to get the most out of asset productivity, and the importance of technology in driving sustainability.
Events
Skills & Education Webinar
When: 10 October, 14:00-17:00 CEST
Where: Online
The wind industry is currently grappling with a critical shortage of skilled workers, and we’re determined to confront this issue head-on.
Join us to hear from those at the forefront of the movement pushing for more diversity and inclusion. You’ll listen to insight from companies like Amazon that have faced similar challenges. And learn about strategies to secure public support for your own skill-building projects.
Check out the agenda here and register for free via the link below.
Innovation Fund Webinar
When: 17 October, 14:00-16:00 CEST
Where: Online
The Innovation Fund is the largest EU funding programme supporting clean technology. But it’s also one of its most competitive schemes. Only around 1 in 8 project proposals are successful. The European Commission has already awarded grants for €3bn since 2020, but wind energy has not been a significant beneficiary.
WindEurope wants to boost the prospects of wind energy projects looking to access the Fund – especially those pushing to expand the manufacturing capacity and value chain in Europe!
We’re hosting a webinar and individual advisory sessions exclusively for WindEurope members who are thinking or planning to submit projects in the next call for proposals under the Innovation Fund. We’ll be partnering with PNO, Europe’s leading funding and innovation consultancy to provide you with the information you need to make a successful application.
Join us on 17 October to learn more about the Innovation Fund and increase your chances of success!
RE-Source 2023
When: 26-27 October
Where: Amsterdam
2030 – the first EU energy and climate target deadline – draws ever closer. The clock to decarbonise is ticking. RE-Source 2023 is your chance to meet hundreds of buyers from a range of sectors looking to join the transition and go green.
As it stands, this year’s edition is looking bigger than ever before. 1,200+ participants from 35 countries and a wide variety of industries have already registered for the event, including 225+ energy buyers. In a new venue as well – the Beurs van Berlage, right in the picturesque centre of Amsterdam.
There’s just a few weeks to go – and places are running out. Book your spot now to avoid being put on a waiting list! Check out the attendees here.
EoLIS 2023
When: 22-23 November
Where: Rotterdam
As our turbine fleet expands year on year, we need to take a closer look at all aspects of the turbine lifecycle. That means planning every stage from the drawing board through to the end of service – and knowing what to do next.
EoLIS is WindEurope’s annual gathering of turbine experts looking at this critical end-of-life debate. The two-day seminar will tackle existing solutions and new approaches – repowering, decommissioning, and lifetime extension, and issues like sustainability and circularity. And we’re heading to Rotterdam – the busiest seaport in Europe and a critical link in delivering key turbine components. Check out the venue here.
If you’re keen to strengthen the sustainable credentials of our industry, or to hear about developments in turbine design, EoLIS is the place to be.
Renewable Hydrogen Summit
When: 12 October
Where: Brussels
Renewable hydrogen has the potential to deliver comprehensive decarbonisation in Europe and to transform hard-to-electrify sectors. But to set this in motion, we need to bridge the cost gap. Hydrogen must be able to compete with existing technologies. And we need to beef up our supply chain here in Europe too.
Join us next week on 12 October 2023 at the Radisson Collection Hotel Grand Place in Brussels as we take this plan further. CEOs from leading European companies and top EU policymakers will be there – for high-level discussions on how to shape the energy landscape of tomorrow. Check out the programme here. And register below for free.
