WindEurope Bulletin
WindEurope Bulletin May 2018
8 May 2018
Giles Dickson
CEO Foreword
Dear WindEurope Member,
I want to begin by updating you on the negotiations on the EU’s 2030 renewables target and the rest of the EU’s Clean Energy Package. The Bulgarian Presidency of the EU invited all the EU Energy Ministers to Sofia last month to try to find some common ground on the outstanding issues. And there was some movement. National Ministers no longer rule out a renewables target that goes beyond the European Commission’s original proposal of just 27%. They cannot accept the European parliament’s position of 35%. But they seem to be ready to accept 30%. And there’s a chance they might agree something slightly higher in the endgame depending on where they are with the Parliament on other issues. The key player will be Germany, which currently seems reluctant to move above 30%. The Bulgarians are pressing for agreement in June.
There was also movement on the national benchmarks. These give an indication of how much a Member State needs to contribute to the collective EU renewable energy target. The Ministers agreed to the formula the European Parliament had put forward. It’s based on each country’s respective GDP (the biggest factor in the formula), their level of interconnections, their starting point and their cost-effective potential.
Last month we released our annual ‘Financing and Investment Trends’ report. The highlights were that Europe invested a total of €51bn in wind energy in 2017, 9% up on 2016. Within this the amount invested in new wind farms was €22bn. This was down from the €28bn invested in 2016, but the money went further, financing 11.5 GW of capacity compared to 10.3 GW. This is largely due to increased competition in auctions and technology advances that are driving cost reductions in the supply chain.
You may also have seen that we sponsored the POLITICO Morning Energy and Climate newsletter last month. POLITICO is the main news wire on EU energy issues. We used the opportunity to push the industry’s key messages, particularly the economic benefits of wind – here are the message we published. This is all part of our wider campaign, ‘Local Impact, Global Leadership,’ which we will officially launch in Brussels on 17 May. Do join us for that if you can.
At WindEurope we’re constantly striving to improve your membership experience. In that vein, we’re pleased to announce a brand new tool for monitoring auctions and tenders. In it you can see upcoming auctions/tenders by country as well as being able to access a full archive of results, including volumes and strike prices.
Finally, elections for the WindEurope Board are coming up at the Annual General Assembly on 21 June. Elections for C-category and A1-category Board seats will take place. Detailed instructions including eligibility requirements, nomination ballots, etc. will be sent to all members in due course. In the meantime, please direct any questions you may have to: [email protected]
Member’s interview feature
WindEurope visited Pieter-Jan Jordaens, OWI-Lab’s Team Leader & Cluster Manager, at OWI-Lab’s testing facility on the Port of Antwerp. Following a tour of the facility, we had a wide-ranging conversation addressing cost reduction, risk assessment, the need for government support for R&D, and the role that research and innovation can play in driving wind energy forward.
Read the interview
Members’ stories
Port of Esbjerg celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2018
150 years has passed since the Danish Parliament passed a bill to establish the Port of Esbjerg. Back then, the city consisted of two farms, three houses and 23 inhabitants. Today, the port is the world’s leading offshore wind port, home to more than 200 companies and the site of some 10,000 jobs.
The decision to establish the Port of Esbjerg came in the wake of the Danish defeat in the Second Schleswig War 1864. Here, Denmark lost all its west-facing ports to Prussians, which was particularly problematic for the farmers’ export of livestock and butter to Great Britain.
The solution was found in Esbjerg, and after its completion in 1874, the Port soon became pivotal for Danish agricultural exports. Later, the fisheries came to predominate and by 1910, the Port of Esbjerg was Denmark’s largest fishing port with more than 600 fishing boats.
Today, the Port of Esbjerg is the world’s leading offshore wind port, base for the Danish offshore industry and an international hub for multimodal transport with six scheduled RoRo routes.
The Port celebrates its birthday in fine fettle
A generally high level of activity and great progress in the wind energy sector made the 2017 financial results the best in the Port of Esbjerg’s history. Offshore wind achieved shipped capacity of 1,300 MW, which is 200 MW more than in 2016.
In general, the wind turbine industry has a large pipeline ahead of it up to 2020, and in 2018 the Horns Rev 3 project in the North Sea will be the main priority in Esbjerg.
“Esbjerg is on track to celebrate its anniversary year with a good deal of optimism, and in the firm belief that the future holds great opportunities for the port and its businesses,” says Flemming N. Enevoldsen, chairman of the board.
Enel becomes official Smart Charge Technology Partner and Official Power Partner of Formula E
Enel has become the Official Smart Charge Technology Partner and Official Power Partner for the next five seasons of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, the electric street-racing series.
Starting next season, Enel will supply the technology, products and services for charging second-generation electric race cars. “We are pleased to continue and expand our partnership with the Formula E team,” says Francesco Venturini, Head of Enel X, the Enel division dedicated to innovative products and digital solutions. The new Superchargers, built by Enel with cutting-edge technology, will have a capacity of 80 kW. “Thanks to our charging technology and our Superchargers at each event,” Venturini adds, “the new larger capacity and more efficient next generation Formula E cars will be charged and ready to run the entire race distance.” These new Supercharger batteries will be very light (less than 200 kg), facilitating more efficient transport from one race to the next.
Enel is one of several WindEurope members involved in the Formula E series, alongside ABB, DHL and Allianz. Venturini says that, with this new formula E partnership, Enel once again confirms its “commitment to continuously promote the development of electric mobility at the global level, furthering efforts to research and develop innovative technological solutions in sustainable transport.”
The electrification of transport will be one of the key topics highlighted during the WindEurope Conference at the Global Wind Summit this November. Find out more
Global Wind Day Photo Competition “Wind Vision” 2018 – Deadline to enter 20 May
As part of the Global Wind Day activities, WindEurope and GWEC have launched a global photo competition: “Wind Vision.” The photo contest aims to draw the attention of the public and policymakers to wind energy and the power it holds to alleviate many social, economic and environmental challenges.
There are 3 categories: Local Impact, Boosting Economies and Visionary Wind. The first prize winner from each category will win €1,000. In addition, the winning photographs will be displayed at the WindEurope Summer Reception in Brussels.
To see what events are happening near you on Global Wind Day or to promote your own event click here. If you are from a National Association and would like to request promotional merchandise contact [email protected].
Events
Join 35,000 visitors from 100 countries in Hamburg for the largest business, networking and educational gathering of the entire wind energy industry!
The Global Wind Summit consists of two parts:
WindEnergy Hamburg’s global on & offshore expo
More than 1,400 exhibitors will gather for WindEnergy Hamburg, the world’s leading wind energy expo. This is an unmissable opportunity to network, do business and maximise your visibility before a truly global audience.
WindEurope’s global on & offshore conference
In parallel to the expo, over 50 conference sessions by 250 experts will put attendees at the forefront of every aspect of the wind industry in 2018. Leading voices from policy, business and technology will discuss the opportunities and challenges for wind in today’s changing world.
Analysis of Operating Wind Farms – Technology Workshop: Final days to register
When: 15 – 16 May
Where: Vilnius
The 2018 edition of Analysis of Operating Wind Farms Technology Workshop will focus on big data and innovative approaches to boost performance and optimise O&M strategies.
Please note there will be no registration possible on-site.
Check out our list of attendees here.
See here for a detailed list of the topics we will address.
Interested in exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities?
See here for more information.
50% of exhibition space already sold for the WindEurope Conference & Exhibition 2019
When: 2 – 4 April 2019
Where: Bilbao
Time is running out if you want to book your stand for 2019’s premier on- and offshore wind energy event!
Spain has made a roaring return to the wind energy market: investors and innovators are unlocking the vast potential of Spanish wind power. This is why over 8,000 industry insiders and more than 400 exhibitors will gather in the buzzing cosmopolitan hub of Bilbao for the WindEurope Conference & Exhibition 2019.
Maximise your visibility in one of Europe’s booming industrial and cultural centres.
Stands are selling fast – so book today to avoid disappointment.
