Brussels Brief June 2016

Brussels Brief

Brussels Brief June 2016

1 June 2016

CEO foreword

As we approach the half-way mark of 2016, it seems appropriate to take stock of how the year has progressed so far. We knew from the outset that 2016 was going to be a challenging year on many fronts. And it hasn’t disappointed.

We’re immersed in detailed policy discussions in Brussels on the new Renewable Energy Directive and Market Design proposals that will emerge at the end of the year. We’ve had difficult policy debates and developments in a number of key Member States. And we have a less buoyant market overall than we enjoyed in 2015. In the face of all these challenges, WindEurope is doing a pretty good job in getting our voice across and representing the best interests of the sector.

First and foremost we have successfully rebranded ourselves. Many thanks to all of you for your support on this. Remember the long-term success of our new identity depends to a large extent on how far you use it, notably the narrative of our new Association that I sent you last month (my email of 13 May). I hope you like the new WindEurope website. It’s getting 2,000 hits a day, so is a key tool for our communications.

The other big development in the life of the Association of course has been the election of a new Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively Francesco Venturini, CEO of Enel Green Power, and Cliff Harris of GE Renewable Energy.

Our advocacy on market design is going OK. The Commission agree we should have full access to balancing and other ancillary services markets. We’re making progress on the need for better-connected and more flexible power markets. On the latter we have launched a new advocacy coalition with the smart grid and storage lobbies and with the paper industry – who like us want more demand response.

On the Renewable Energy Directive the advocacy challenges are arguably greater. We’ve a new position paper on what we want in the Directive – and have started calling for a higher EU renewables target for 2030 of at least 30%. The Commission wants to stick to 27% for now but is sympathetic to our point that the Member States need to feel genuine pressure to do their fair share to whatever is the EU target.

On events, we had a good joint exhibition and conference with the Polish Wind Energy Association in Warsaw. Poland are of course now introducing legislation that seriously undermines onshore wind. There is another month before it is adopted, and we’re leaning heavily on the EU Commission to highlight the inconsistencies with EU law. More positively the Polish government seem clear that they want to support offshore wind.

We also organised a successful technology workshop in Bilbao on analysing the operation of wind farms – which got a record attendance for our workshops. There are 2 more technology workshops to come this year: on sound and on the supply chain.

In addition to our workshops, WindEurope is now coordinating the European Technology and Innovation Platform (ETIPWind). The initial deliverable here is a stakeholder consultation on how we can make Europe number 1 in renewables. The goal is to define and agree on concrete research and innovation priorities and relay these to the EU institutions.

Alongside all of this, we’ve had several high-level meetings with policymakers in Brussels and elsewhere in Europe.

As we look ahead to the second half of 2016, two things stand out:

First, the WindEurope Summit 2016 in Hamburg on 27-29 September. This is our main event of the year and a major milestone for us as our first collaboration with Hamburg Messe. It’s shaping up well. We expect over 30,000 people attending this joint event.
Second, the Commission’s proposals on the Renewable Energy Directive and market design. These will shape the regulatory framework in which we operate for many years to come.

Looking forward to continued collaboration.

– Giles Dickson

Membership update

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Members’ directory

As a member of WindEurope you are part of a network of more than 500 organisations active in wind energy. This month, each member will receive copy of the 2016 members’ directory, a useful networking tool providing access to the contact details of more than 2,000 wind energy professionals. The online version of the members’ directory is also available on the members’ area, in the networking section.

Wind Turbines and Radars: The road to establishing a stakeholder mitigation process and developing technical solutions

This upcoming webinar will discuss how potential impacts of wind turbines on radar systems can be effectively mitigated through technical solutions and a well-established mitigation process. The session will last 1hour and will be focused on experiences shared from France and the UK.

Wind Turbines and Radars: The road to establishing a stakeholder mitigation process and developing technical solutions: 20 June 2016, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CET. Register by 17th June via this link.

Wind project financing: technical challenges and finance opportunities

On the 2nd of June, WindEurope is organising in London a workshop on wind project financing, sponsored by 3E. European experts from the main companies behind Europe’s wind energy deployment so far will exchange views and lessons on how to develop a viable wind financing proposition and align capital with project needs.

Your success is our success

Fugro boosts productivity of nearshore site investigations

Fugro has developed a two-in-one system to provide a low cost replica of the downhole CPT and sampling tools used offshore. Relatively easy to use and maintain, it can be operated by a drilling crew after appropriate training without the need for additional dedicated personnel.

Applications in offshore wind development include shallow water (15-20m or less) site investigations from a fixed platform where, traditionally, land based drilling methods would be used. The system provides productivity advantages including higher production speed for acquisition of CPT data and higher quality samples taken using pushed in thin walled sample tubes. CPT and samples intervals can be varied to suit ground conditions.

The award-nominated system can be used at turbine foundation locations and in the nearshore area where power cables may need to be installed by horizontal directional drilling (HDD) – where boreholes with in situ testing and sampling are required to assess the ground for HDD installation design.

www.fugro.com

Brookfield and Facebook sign long-term renewable energy supply agreement in Ireland

Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners and Facebook Inc. signed a long-term renewable energy supply agreement. Brookfield Renewable will supply 100% renewable wind energy to Facebook’s second European data center under construction in, Ireland and to Facebook’s international headquarters in Dublin.

Share your stories with us. Just send an email to: [email protected]

WindEurope Summit 2016

World’s largest wind energy event coming to Hamburg this September

European leaders are set to meet at WindEurope Summit 2016 in Hamburg from 27 – 29 September 2016. Organised alongside WindEnergy Hamburg Expo the joint event will be the world’s largest wind energy event.

Support from key political and industry figures has been strong with German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel confirmed to open the event and Michael Liebreich, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, featuring in WindEurope’s ‘Business meets Policy’ sessions. See the WindEurope Summit 2016 programme overview.

In response to feedback from members we will hold a call for contributions presenting the very latest findings and breakthroughs that have never been made public before. This in addition to the main call for abstracts that closed in April. Submit your ‘breakthrough abstracts’ from 6 to 19 June 2016.

Submit your very latest breakthroughs by 19 June

Brussels Brief