Brussels Brief
Brussels Brief May 2016
2 May 2016
WindEurope is up and running
CEO foreword
April marked a significant moment in the 34-year history of our Association. We are now WindEurope. The new identity crowned a two-year evolution in which we’ve “re-powered” the Association, reforming our statutes, working methods and approach to advocacy.
We launched WindEurope at a rebranding event in Brussels on 6 April. Over 300 people were there: Members of the European Parliament, EU Commission officials, national governments, and of course our members. Take a moment to watch the short video with which we unveiled the new identity and the video of the event.
The same day as our rebranding we took a delegation of 10 CEOs from the industry to the EU Commission for a roundtable with President Juncker’s closest advisers. We discussed the post-2020 Renewable Energy Directive, priorities for the design of Europe’s electricity markets and the importance of investor protection. We also insisted on the need for a robust home market for wind to bring technology costs down and ensure the European wind industry can continue to compete with the Chinese and others.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to make Europe no. 1 in renewables. They urged us to make more use of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI – Juncker’s €316bn infrastructure investment plan) and challenged the wind industry to put forward 500 projects for financing. EFSI won’t work for everyone: projects have to be at least €25m. But there is a clear open door for us here. We’ll shortly be organising a webinar on EFSI to explain what it offers and how to apply. In the meantime here’s a note on EFSI.
The roundtable with Juncker’s people was just one of many high level meetings we’ve had with policy-makers in recent weeks. In March a WindEurope team met with EU Energy and Climate Commissioner Arias Cañete. We had a dinner with German Energy Minister Rainer Baake in Berlin. We met a number of Polish Ministers at the Wind Power Poland 2016 event in Warsaw. And I took part in the 6-monthly informal meeting of EU Energy Ministers in Amsterdam.
Key issues in all of these discussions have been the new Renewable Energy Directive which the Commission will table at the end of 206 and their parallel proposals on electricity market design. But we’ve touched on national policy issues too, most notably with Polish Ministers – where a new draft law threatens to kill the onshore wind market. The Polish Government is now reworking the law after huge pressure from the Polish Wind Energy Association – which we have supported in Brussels by getting the EU Commission to weigh in.
These are just examples of what we do to create the right framework for you, our members, to develop your business. Another cornerstone of work is the support we give to learning, innovation and sharing best practice across the industry. Many of you took part in our technical workshop on the analysis of operating wind farms in Bilbao 2 weeks ago. Many of you have submitted abstracts for the WindEurope Summit in Hamburg in September.
Of course it’s only with your input that this activity works. And the same is true on policy – we rely on your input to our Working Groups to ensure we’re pushing the right messages with governments.
We face major challenges: the need to further reduce costs; how we manage variability now we’re providing over 10% of Europe’s electricity; power markets that are still dysfunctional; faltering policy ambition in many places – and policy mistakes in some. But I am confident that we can meet these challenges together as an industry united.
WindEurope is your association. It’s your ground force for lobbying in Europe, your information hub – and your platform to meet, network and to grow your business. WindEurope has 50 experts at your disposal to provide you with the services you need. Now we’re up and running with our new identity can I invite those of you who aren’t closely involved in the life of the Association to contact us – in order to understand how your membership can give you an even higher return on your investment.
Get to know the WindEurope team.
Regional Cooperation
Andrew Ho
The Dutch Presidency of the EU started at the beginning of the year, and with it marked an important opportunity for offshore wind. The concept of regional cooperation, of how Member States could work together to meet Europe’s commitments to renewable electricity and climate change was tabled, with offshore wind as a key technology to provide joint momentum in our shared seas.
Our Working Group on offshore wind has been working on behalf of the offshore wind industry to aid the Dutch Presidency by informing how exactly Member States can work together. The Working Group began this task even before the Dutch Presidency came in, looking at regional cooperation with two aims; cost reduction from coordinated regulatory practice, and looking at the market post-2020. This work has allowed the Secretariat to make timely interventions in advocating and informing stakeholders on industry views.
WindEurope has presented industry views on how best practices can be shared on a multitude of issues ranging from standardizing turbine markings and aviation lighting, enhanced recognition of training standards and certification for crews and vessels, through to wind farm layout practices which would increase the energy yields at sea, and even on sharing best practices on decommissioning. Beyond 2020, we have called for coordination in timing and sizing of tenders so that markets are visible and can enable investments to secure the industry can happen today.
As the Dutch Presidency prepares to draw to a close in June, it is preparing a high level declaration for Member States in the Northern Seas to sign, which will have actions for regulators and policy makers for the coming years. We are confident that the Working Group’s hard work has made an impact, and that our practical insights mean that we will continue to be at the table in Brussels and beyond.
Your success is our success
Breakthrough HVDC cable technology to reduce costs by approximately 10% per transmitted MW
Prysmian manufactures and lays the cables that silently connect Europe’s offshore and onshore wind farms as well as the interconnectors that contribute significantly to the development of Europe’s Internal Energy Market and make the Energy Union become a reality.
On 18th April 2016, the worldwide leader in the energy cable systems industry has announced the launch of a new breakthrough cable technology for the development of power transmission grids, the new P-Laser 525kV cable system for HVD applications.
This new technology, while permitting a more efficient cable production, will enable up to 10% cost reduction in power transmission.
On 27-28th April 2016, WindEurope brought ten journalists to Prysmian’s facilities in Pikkala along the lines of “the Company silently connecting up Europe’s Energy Union”. Pikkala is Prysmian’s newest and most technologically advanced plant, specialized in HVDC and HVAC extruded cables that are largely used in offshore wind grid connections.
Sentient Science gains global recognition for solving unplanned failures in the wind industry
Sentient Science has been gaining global recognition for its innovative approach to solving unplanned failures in the wind industry. In April, Sentient accepted its second major award at the Future of Energy Summit in New York City. They received the Bloomberg “New Energy Finance Pioneers” award for innovation and growth. Within 2 years after the commercial launch of their DigitalClone Live software in the wind industry, Sentient Science managed to capture 18,000 wind assets on contract and are projecting to be monitoring 50,000 by mid-2017.
In 2014, The White House had honoured Sentient with the Tibbett’s Award for their SBIR-funded research and development in material science and technology, which was said to “most likely to change the energy market.”
Sentient Science builds material science-based computational models of major systems and components of rotating machines. Sentient predicts the future life of wind turbines and identifies the failure rates for the gearbox and components before cracks initiate, which is far in advance of any condition-based monitoring systems or sensors can detect. Sentient provides life extension solutions that reduce the cost of energy, ensuring renewables can compete directly with other energy sources.
Share your stories with us. Just send an email to: [email protected]
WindEurope Summit at WindEnergy Hamburg – This is where the future starts
Hamburg is a thriving business metropolis and major hub for the international wind energy sector. It is home to the leading companies in the sector and pools key competencies in both the onshore and offshore areas of business. For the second time, in 2016, Hamburg will be the global wind industry capital.
This year it will not only be the trade fair, gathering more than 1200 exhibitors but also will include the WindEurope Summit – a conference with presentations on every aspect of wind energy. Delegates will be able to learn from the brightest minds in the industry. Programme will consist of more than 500 presentations and will be available online before the summer.
Due to the successful exhibition sales, an extra hall has been added. If you would like to be one of the exhibitors, please contact: Andreas Arnheim: [email protected]. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Raul Lanzarote: [email protected]
This will be an unmissable event for anyone active in wind so mark your agendas now to join us in Hamburg, between 27-30 September.
Technology workshop in Bilbao: a success story
WindEurope Workshop ‘Analysis of Operating Wind Farms 2016’ took place on 14-15 April in Bilbao, Spain.
This 3rd edition of the workshop had a special focus on big data applications to optimize wind farm operations. The event gathered 260 wind energy experts from industry and academia, coming from around the globe, to discuss and learn about new techniques and technologies to cut operational costs, boost performance and streamline asset maintenance. Most presentations used data from actual operating wind farms.
The workshop consisted of OEM and operator presentations on:
- current and future uses of operational data;
- new methods to detect faults and failures;
- new performance modelling approaches using higher data frequency and benchmarking techniques;
- advanced methods and tools to identify the cause and nature of production losses;
- life-cycle approaches to wind farm operations, including de-commissioning;
- looking at the future of operations with innovative technologies such as smart sensors and drones.
In between conference sessions, 37 poster presenters shared insights on their research with participants in one-to-one conversations.
Attendees were welcomed by Arantxa Tapia, the minister for Economic Development and Competitiveness of the Basque regional government, who highlighted the importance of the wind industry for the future of the Basque Country:
“Wind Energy is a priority area for this government’s industrial policies, since it offers new opportunities for growth on the international market, through new offshore wind facilities, the extension of existing wind farms and the installation of small wind turbines in urban settings (…) Another aspect I consider to be of vital importance for the Basque wind industry is the level of its investment in R&D, totally nearly €40m within the Basque Country and nearly €100 million altogether per year.”
The Spanish wind energy sector was well represented at the event, accounting for 30% of attendees. Premium sponsor Iberdrola hosted the workshop dinner for all participants at the Iberdrola tower and executive sponsor Gamesa gave the introduction address to the event.
Offshore Wind Energy 2017
In 2017, WindEurope and RenewableUK will join forces to host the world’s largest offshore wind energy conference and exhibition from 6 – 8 June in London, UK. The UK is currently the global market leader in offshore wind with 5,098 MW installed, and is on track to deliver over 10 GW by 2020, therefore providing the ideal location for this event.
The conference and exhibition benefits include:
- Great exposure for your business within international audience of more than 500 exhibitors and 10,000 participants.
- Access to the latest technological and business developments in the wind industry in over 20 high level conference sessions.
- Access to networking events including opening reception, side seminars & workshops and stand networking receptions.
To book your space at Offshore Wind Energy 2017 visit offshorewind2017.com
Spread the word
Your continued support with our rebranding campaign is much appreciated. The circulation of our new identity through your networks is key for us. In order to help you disseminate our message a toolbox of materials has been created accordingly.
- The new “Member of WindEurope” logo, along with guidelines on the use of the new identity can be downloaded from here.
- WindEurope corporate video is available to view and share here.
- See photos and the video from our rebranding event.
EU-funded projects
Market4RES event
Interested in joining the discussions on the future of electricity market design?
The Market4RES project cordially invites you to the event “How to pave the road into the renewable future: Electricity market analyses and policy implications for 2020-2030” that will be held in Brussels on 19 May 2016. The provisional agenda is available here. More information on the future events can be found at the dedicated section of the website.
Please contact [email protected] for any further clarification.
ETIPWind questionnaire
ETIPWind invites all stakeholders from the wind energy community to take part in two short online R&I surveys on offshore wind and onshore wind. Your responses will help to shape the EU’s research agenda. As a thank you for completing the survey, you will enter into a prize draw with a chance to win one of three 1-day passes to the WindEurope Summit 2016.
ETIPWind workshop
On Friday 3 June, the ETIPWind will host the workshop ‘Where should R&I funding go? Have your say!’ The workshop will provide input to the Horizon 2020 work programme on secure, clean and efficient energy. You will soon find more information on the event programme and registration details at etipwind.eu.