WindEurope Bulletin
WindEurope Bulletin July 2020
7 July 2020
Giles Dickson
CEO Foreword
Dear WindEurope Member,
As the summer begins, let’s take stock of the past 6 months and look ahead to what the rest of this year brings.
In the immediate wake of the lockdown, we set up our COVID-19 Information Hub as a one-stop shop for information on impacts on the wind industry, and how we’ve been responding. We established our Sofa Talks series of free webinars to keep intelligence flowing and to keep up outreach to stakeholders. We’ve had countless online meetings with policy-makers to try to ensure governments are responding in the right way. We also revised our events strategy, moving our Technology Workshop last month completely online – over 400 of you took part.
Above all we’ve been working to maintain the visibility of our industry and keep up the pressure for government policies that work for wind. The past six months have seen some significant developments on this front. The European Green Deal was already a game-changer – but the COVID-19 crisis has made it even more essential. The Commission’s long-awaited “Recovery Plan” was good news for our industry. The Plan’s two elements – a new EU Budget for 2021-27 and a new Recovery Fund – amount to €1.85tn of total investment. The Plan is intended to accelerate the Green Deal. But it will only be as green as the projects it funds and the jobs it creates. Society expects the huge resources invested to help build a resilient, future-proof economy. Government, Industry and Financial Institutions can deliver by channelling the money where it would best serve the energy transition. We, the wind industry, must roll up our sleeves and put forward projects now to make that happen.
The Commission have been very receptive to our messages this year. In April the CEOs of our 22 board member companies had a 90-minute videoconference with European Commission Executive Vice-President in charge of the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans, and Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson. They asked us to define the low-hanging fruit of how they can best support us to unlock investments and generate jobs and growth in the coming 12-18 months. And there is a lot of work to do here. The Commission are now evaluating the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) submitted by EU Member States. On paper, things look good: if implemented, the Plans would mean that renewables account for 33% of Europe’s energy mix by 2030. This exceeds the EU’s 32% target. And the volume commitments from different countries in the NECPs give us great visibility on auction and build-out plans in our market.
However, we still need serious policy measures to translate these Plans into reality. Crucially we need measures to simplify permitting. This remains a major stumbling block in many countries. I am going to be blunt about this: the massive sums of money that the Commission is pumping into a green recovery will be worth very little if current permitting procedures mean we can’t build our projects. This is a no-brainer. National governments need to sort their permitting issues out, now.
We’re already engaging communities on this front. Public support for wind energy is already high – but it’s up to us to ensure that wind projects have a happy coexistence with local communities and environments. Our Board recently approved our Commitments on Community Engagement. This white paper includes 3 guiding principles that the wind industry commits to follow as a model of best practice for good community engagement:
- early, transparent and comprehensive information and communication;
- direct engagement of key local actors and activation of the local economy; and
- highlighting how communities will benefit from the investments being made.
These principles should apply at every stage of a project, from site selection and pre-application, planning, construction to operation and decommissioning. It’s a good read – please do share it.
Looking ahead to the second half of the year… Our End-of-Life Issues and Strategies seminar will take place on 19-20 November. We have postponed WindEnergy Hamburg, our joint event with Hamburg Messe und Congress, until 1-4 December. RE-Source will be returning on 9-11 of December. Of course, the situation on the ground is still evolving – and we are adapting all of our planning according to the circumstances. We will keep you posted on the details of all our events as they develop.
Finally, I wish to thank you all again for the input you have been giving us on so many different fronts. 2020 has already been a year like no other, but I am pleased to say that our work at WindEurope continues smoothly, thanks to your continued input and support. Do keep letting us know if there are any issues we can help you with. Our staff remain at your full disposal – do not hesitate to contact us if there is anything we can help you with.
Enjoy your summer break.
Take care,
Giles Dickson
Policy News
Cross-sector industry platform outlines best strategies for the recycling of wind turbine blades
The “Choose Renewable Hydrogen” initiative currently includes 10 companies and associations: Akuo Energy, BayWa r.e., EDP, Enel, Iberdrola, MHI Vestas, SolarPower Europe, Ørsted, Vestas and WindEurope. Signatories called on the European Commission to make the right choices for Europe’s upcoming energy system integration and hydrogen strategy, harvesting the full potential of renewable electricity to fully decarbonise Europe.
“Renewables are nearly half our electricity now,” said WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson. “But electricity is only a quarter of our total energy consumption. The rest is mostly fossil and less efficient than electricity. We need to electrify as much of this other energy as we can. And wind will be key – the EU Commission and IEA say it will be half of Europe’s electricity by 2050.” The “Choose Renewable Hydrogen” initiative urges that, amidst the COVID-19 health crisis and its economic implications, Europe prioritises the most efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective pathways to decarbonise its economy.
Direct electrification will be the primary means for decarbonising heating and road transport, but there are other hard-to-abate sectors – such as some heavy industry, long-haul road transport, aviation, and shipping – where direct electrification is insufficient. “We cannot electrify everything,” Dickson said. “Some industrial processes and heavy transport will have to run on gas. And renewable hydrogen is the best gas. It is completely clean. It will be affordable with renewables being so cheap now. And it will be energy made in Europe creating jobs and growth in Europe. Hydrogen in the Recovery Package? Yes, but make it renewable hydrogen!”
Hydrogen produced in Europe via electrolysers powered by 100% renewable electricity, such as solar and wind, has zero greenhouse gas emissions or other pollution, increases the EU’s energy security, and, when produced by grid-connected renewables, presents an optimised form of sector coupling
Global Wind Day 2020 celebrates the wind industry through time
On 15 June, WindEurope celebrated the annual Global Wind Day. In light of these difficult times, this occasion gave the wind industry around the world an opportunity to reflect on our achievements through time. We are grateful to our members for sending over their photographs and other historic material that showed how far we’ve come as an industry. You can see the multimedia on Global Wind Day’s Instagram page here.
To celebrate this occasion under such unusual circumstances, WindEurope also hosted a virtual live Global Wind Day quiz. Over 200 participants competed with their wind-related knowledge for a chance to win exclusive prizes! Ørsted’s team proved to be the savviest in wind industry fun facts and we congratulate them as winners of the quiz!
Global Wind Day Interviews
Today, engineers, entrepreneurs and visionaries continue lead renewable energy industries towards a more sustainable world. Thanks to their relentless pursuit of a greener world, people in wind energy are building upon innovative ideas and technology faster than ever. This series of interviews with puts a spotlight on some of the most influential individuals in today’s wind energy.
“Renewable resources can be harvested to cover all of our energy needs.” – Read the interview with Henrik Stiesdal, CEO Stiesdal/AS.
Read the interview
“Resolving research questions on wind will help make wind energy more competitive for future energy systems.” – Read the interview with Dr. Katherine Dykes, Head of Section at Department of Wind Energy, DTU
Read the interview
“By 2120, we will have entered the true electric era.” – Read the interview with Eddie O’Connor, CEO of Mainstream
Read the interview
Members’ news
Hitachi ABB Power Grids commences operations
On 1 July, Hitachi Ltd. and ABB Ltd announced the formation of Hitachi ABB Power Grids Ltd. Hitachi has an 80.1 percent stake in this new joint venture entity (which has business volume of approximately $10 billion USD), and ABB holds the balance.
Toshikazu Nishino, Executive Vice President of Hitachi, is the Chairman of the new entity and Claudio Facchin the CEO. “Hitachi’s leading digital technologies merged with world-class power grid solutions will help us to play an active role in the global transformation and decarbonization of energy systems for a sustainable energy future,” Nishino said. “Intelligent solutions for a more dynamic grid will also contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 7 of ‘affordable, reliable and clean energy.’”
The new entity is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, and the current management team will ensure business continuity. The joint venture brings together two highly respected companies to create a new global power leader. “Synergies and access to new and growing markets provided by Hitachi will help take Power Grids to the next stage of its development, further strengthening its leading position,” said Timo Ihamuotila, CFO of ABB and Director of the Board of Hitachi ABB Power Grids. “Hitachi brings long-term commitment to the new entity and strengthens the existing business partnership between our companies,” he added.
The alliance with Hitachi will facilitate expansion opportunities for the new entity in areas such as mobility, smart cities, industry, energy storage and data centres, besides providing financial muscle to support ambitious projects and enabling access to Japan, the third largest economy in the world.
“Combining our respective technology strengths will bring us new market opportunities and enable us to deliver greater customer value,” said Claudio Facchin, CEO, Hitachi ABB Power Grids. “We remain committed to powering good for a sustainable energy future, with pioneering and digital technologies, as the partner of choice for enabling a stronger, smarter and greener grid.”
DHI GRAS unveils new generation of satellite-based products to improve accuracy of wind Resource Assessment
WindSight, a new generation of satellite-based data products has been developed by DHI GRAS through Innowind: an Innovation Fund Denmark partnership from 2017-2020 with VESTAS, Vattenfall, EMD International A/S and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).
Accurate estimations of wind energy resources rely on consistent, accurate and timely input data and WindSight provides a comprehensive data package for any onshore wind site. “I am excited about sharing this new generation of satellite-based information products to improve wind resource assessments.” said DHI GRAS Managing Director Rasmus Borgstrøm. “The WindSight product suite has been tested at several global wind energy sites and has shown an improved accuracy of the modelled Annual Energy Production at all forested sites.
”WindSight includes 5 different high-quality and high-resolution data products on land cover, key forest characteristics, historical and future changes, topography and surface roughness. The core of the product suite includes the novel forest products which provide detailed inside on current and historical forest height and forest density, in grid sizes of 20 metres. Together with the improved 10m land cover product, these provide the backbone of the surface roughness product that provides accurate insight on roughness length – directly compatible as input for a wide range of software and modelling methods including WindPRO, WaSP and CFD tools
Events
60% of exhibition space already sold for WindEurope Electric City 2021: Europe’s largest on- and offshore wind energy event
When: 27-29 April 2021
Where: Copenhagen
The world is changing. Our business models are changing. And our business partners are changing too.
Electric City is WindEurope’s on- and offshore event in Copenhagen, specifically designed to put the wind industry at the centre of the energy transition.
Electric City is an enhanced version of the annual WindEurope conference and exhibition that you’ve been attending over the past 20 years.
What does this change mean for you?
It’s simple: not only will you get to meet all your colleagues and friends from onshore and offshore wind, you’ll also get to diversify your partnerships with new players from other sectors who want to do business with you.
Stands are selling out fast. Check out our stand prices here.
All the classic WindEurope event features will be there in Copenhagen: the Gala Dinner, the Members’ Reception, the stand parties, the product launches, the surprise announcements.What’s unique is the sheer return on investment this event brings: not only do you get to meet the entire value chain under one roof, but every euro put into this event goes back into WindEurope’s campaigning work as the voice of the wind industry, fighting for your interests on a national and international level.
Here are just 4 reasons you can’t miss the Electric City event:
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- This event will bring the wind industry together to make the most of the unprecedented window of opportunity we have.
- Literally everyone who is anyone in the wind industry will be there.
- But you’ll also get to meet the new partners with whom we build the new energy system.
- And you can do all of this at one event, in one place.
WindEurope Sofa Talks: Want to stay up to date with what’s happening in wind energy these days?
Make yourself a cup of coffee and join WindEurope experts as we bring you all the latest from the world of wind energy, directly from our sofas to your sofa!
WindEurope Sofa Talks is our ongoing series of free interactive webinars dedicated to the most important issues facing wind energy today.
Join the thousands of attendees who have tuned into our Sofa Talks, where we tackle topics ranging from recycling to finance, from the EU’s Climate Law to industrial strategy and more.
This is your chance to get one-to-one insights from Europe’s leading wind energy experts as they set out the current state-of-play and answer your questions in real time.
Our Sofa Talks will be taking a short break for the summer, but will be back with more insightful live webinar sessions!
Upcoming Sofa Talk: Tomorrow’s technology
When: Thursday, 9 July, 15:00 CEST
Who:
- Daniel Fraile, Head of Market Intelligence, WindEurope
- Raul Gil, SVP Submarine Projects, Prysmian Group
- Christina Aabo, Head of R&D, Ørsted
- Daniel Luecht, Chief Digital Officer, Siemens Gamesa
Wind turbines are rapidly changing: increased power, larger blades, new electrical configurations. In the onshore sector, +5 MW turbines are becoming more common. In the offshore sector there are more and more +10 MW solutions. And it is not just about the turbine. Wind farm configuration is as important.
We have recently seen the importance of wake effects in energy yields. And the choice in cables, the design of the transformer station and additional equipment is extremely important to reduce costs and maximize the power output. What will the wind energy technology look like, 20 years from now? How are we going to be operating those wind farms? Are we expecting incremental changes or radical transformation? Industry experts will help us uncovering some of these questions in this Sofa Talk on 9 July.
End-of-Life Issues and Strategies Seminar (EoLIS) 2020
When: 19-20 November
This year, EoLIS will be a 2-day event: Day 1 will focus on “Making the most of existing sites” while Day 2 will focus on “Optimising solutions for wind farm closures.”
High-level plenaries on every aspect of end-of-life issues – repowering, lifetime extension, decommissioning, recycling, etc. – will be followed by break-out workshop sessions.
There will also be networking sessions every day between those involved in the operational and investment sides of the end-of-life conversation.
WindEnergy Hamburg 2020 – now taking place in December
When: 1-4 December
What: The world’s largest wind energy event
In previous years, WindEnergy Hamburg has gathered 35,000 visitors from over 100 countries in Hamburg. We are closely monitoring current situation and adapting the event in order to make it accessible, top-quality, and – more than anything – safe.
Creating new paths through this crisis also means creating new facets in our event:
- Parts of the WindEurope Premium Conference and the WindEnergy Hamburg expo might be entirely repurposed for digital platforms.
- Other areas of the event will remain as planned.
- We will also introduce hybrid content, incorporating both in-person and online aspects.
If you have any questions, please see the dedicated FAQ, or get in touch with us or the WindEnergy Hamburg team.
RE-Source 2020: connecting renewable energy buyers and sellers
When: 9-11 December
Where: Hotel Okura, Amsterdam
We know how important it is for corporate buyers and suppliers of renewable energy to continue to work together.
Whether as our traditional gathering at Hotel Okura in Amsterdam, a fully online event, or a hybrid event integrating in-person meetings and digital platforms, RE-Source 2020 will still be taking place.
Over the past 3 years, RE-Source has become a milestone for all of us working in the corporate sourcing of renewables. Our B2B matchmaking activities, deep dive breakout sessions and increasingly diverse buyer and supplier groups have made RE-Source an essential event.
Registrations will open soon – in the meantime, make sure to save the date!
Partnered Events
GOW V-Fest: RenewableUK’s virtual summer festival of offshore wind
When: 22-24 July
Bringing together the main offshore wind players has never been more important, as the opportunities for offshore wind in the UK and abroad are growing exponentially.
Recovery – Transition – Innovation is the theme of this 3-day virtual festival, combining virtual panel sessions with over 40 speakers, and a virtual exhibition and networking hall which will facilitate networking and business development in the safety of the virtual environment.
WindEurope members enjoy a discount to attend as delegates. REGISTER before July 15 for £99 with code: VFESTUK.
New Energy Investor Summit 2020
When: 24-25 August
The New Energy Investor Summit, an event initiated by Swiss energy providers, brings together a group of hand-picked decision makers within the Renewable Energy Sector. Every year, new stakeholders help shape the event as partners. The Investor Summit remains responsive and always keeps a finger on the pulse of the market and current business challenges.
The goal of the Investor Summit is to provide participants a platform where they can meet with the top management from financially strong investors, project developers, providers of investment opportunities and service providers.
Hybrid Renewables Conference: where wind, solar and storage combine to drive forward the next generation of renewables
When: 8 October, 2020
Where: Online
As of today, there are more than 25 hybrid projects worldwide (in all stages of development), amounting to 8 GW of wind, 5.7 GW of solar and 120 MW of storage. And this is just the start… This October, WindEurope has joined SolarPlaza as the strategic partner at the upcoming Hybrid Renewables Conference.
This event will gather dozens of high-level speakers including public decision makers and experts from the field of renewable energy, with over 200 participants ranging from international and local stakeholders, investors and project developers, to EPC’s IPP’s and manufacturers.
The programme will feature topics including:
- Hybrid Renewable Power Plants
- Siting Hybrid Projects
- Hybridization of operational plants
- Alternative hybrid structures
