WindEurope Bulletin
WindEurope Bulletin November 2020
1 November 2020
CEO Foreword
October saw the launch of our new report – “Wind energy and economic recovery in Europe”. It shows you can combine European economic recovery with a successful energy transition – specifically, that the expansion of wind energy can help power recovery, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and supporting communities across Europe.
The key messages in the report are that wind already employs 300,000 people across Europe and contributes €37bn to EU GDP each year. If European governments fully implement their National Energy & Climate Plans, then Europe will have 392 GW of wind capacity by 2030, up from 192 GW. And that would take the job count from 300,000 to 450,000. But if Governments don’t implement their NECPs – crucially, if they don’t improve their current approach to permitting – then there will only be 327 GW of wind by 2030. And that would have a really negative impact economically. We’d in fact lose around 20,000 jobs; and communities would lose out too. The report shows how wind pays €5bn worth of taxes each year across Europe and helps local communities through benefit funds and community ownership.
The report also shows that each additional 1 GW of wind contributes €2.5bn to EU GDP. Put another way, each new turbine generates on average €10m worth of economic activity. Here is a link to the full report. And here is the recording of the “Sofa Talk” where we launched it with some leading EU political figures. We’ve also done Sofa Talks in the last month on wind’s relationship with aviation and the military, funding for R&I, and renewable hydrogen. Please find the link to our recordings here.
Looking ahead, on 17 November we’re doing an online event on onshore wind. It’ll plug how Europe plans and needs an even bigger build-out of onshore wind capacity than offshore wind by 2050. And it’ll consider challenges that need to be overcome to deliver that. Be sure to register soon!
On 18-20 November we do our annual End-of-Life Issues & Strategies Seminar (EoLIS). It’ll be a deep dive on repowering, decommissioning, lifetime extension and circularity, with plenty of networking opportunities too – you can sign up here.
On 1-4 December it’s “WindEnergy Hamburg”. The annual WindEurope Conference will run online in the afternoons. And in the mornings, you can watch our WindTV platform where there’ll be videos and interviews with industry leaders and top people from government, finance and elsewhere. There’ll also be an Open Stream which will focus on non-European markets and feature company presentations. We’re sending out the full details on registration, including the online Exhibitors’ Package next week.
On 7-11 December we’ll have this year’s RE-Source event on sourcing of renewables. It’s the world’s largest PPA event. Despite being online this year, it’ll bring together renewable energy suppliers and off-takers and combine as ever the conference with B2B networking. Registration will open soon.
Many thanks for all your input to these events and all of WindEurope’s other ongoing activity. I wish you an enjoyable read.
Giles Dickson
BI Product of the Month
Wind Turbine Orders Monitoring Report – Q3 2020
The latest Wind Turbine Orders Monitoring Report is now available in the Members’ Area of the WindEurope website.
Europe had very strong orders totalling up to 4.8 GW in Q3 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the second strongest quarter ever, following on from the record orders in Q2 this year, amounting to almost 6 GW. This adds up to 12.9 GW worth of orders in 2020 so far.
We had a single offshore wind order, but it was huge – SSE and Equinor’s Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the UK ordered 190 of GE’s Haliade X turbine (13 MW), worth up to 2.5 GW. Onshore orders were also solid with 2.4 GW overall. The UK led in both onshore and offshore orders (total 2.9 GW), followed by Poland (363 MW) and Spain (312 MW).
We wish you an enjoyable read. You are always welcome to direct any comments or questions to Daniel Fraile, Head of Market Intelligence at [email protected].
Monthly advocacy report
All the latest intel from the EU bubble in one click? For all this and more, check out WindEurope’s Advocacy Report!
What policies are being cooked up in Brussels? How will they affect your business? What is the power play between the EU Institutions? Who’s WindEurope speaking to when shaping policies? What have we been communicating as an industry to different stakeholders? How can I get involved in meetings?
For answers to these questions, look no further than WindEurope’s Advocacy Report. This is our monthly compilation of the latest intelligence from Brussels on all the topics we cover for the wind industry. Together with all the position papers and reports we’ve developed both with you and for you. And a recap of all the policymakers and stakeholders we’ve met to pass on our industry’s policy priorities.
Members’ news
Innovative Technical Assessment to advance recruitment process for the Wind Industry
Global recruitment company Atlas Professionals have recently launched the innovative online Atlas Technical Assessment based on data available from the Global Wind Organisations (GWO) Basic Technical Training (BTT).
The assessment shows that onshore and offshore blue-collar wind professionals have the right technical knowledge to complete the mandatory GWO BTT successfully, benefiting both stakeholders and professionals in the industry.
Technical Assessment
Titles and years of experience are no longer the only currency, especially in an era with an expected general lack of technical professionals. Market demand is becoming more and more focused on having the right (technical) know how and (soft) skill set. Atlas’ innovative Technical Assessment allows stakeholders to evaluate the technical skill level of a professional before hiring them, adding to the profile stated on a CV.
“By using this tool, we can attract a larger pool of possible suitable candidates while also assessing the current level of their technical skills,” says Miranda de Kraker, Team Leader Renewables at Atlas Professionals. “This is especially relevant for professionals that want to transfer into the booming onshore and offshore wind industry, such as Mechatronics Technicians, Car Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technicians,” de Kraker explains. As all new technicians working for GWO member companies and their suppliers have been expected to complete the BTT Standard since April 2018, it is very important for the employer to have an idea of where a technician stands in their technical development.
The Atlas Technical Assessment is created in English and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete online via PC or mobile device. “It consists of 60 multiple choice questions, divided into mechanical, electrical and hydraulic sections. After completing the Technical Assessment, a summary is created automatically, giving a direct insight into the results per module for each candidate. We can then add this to a candidate’s CV for our client, providing a data-backed approach,” she explains.
Human Capital Challenge
The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) expects 900K jobs will be created in the offshore wind industry over the next decade. “Our main way to play our part in the global energy transition is to help fill the human capital gap in the renewables industry. This tool was specifically created with that goal in mind,” says de Kraker.
During development special attention was put into the user experience of the candidate. “The setup is modern, user friendly and accessible 24/7 online. Next to knowing where they stand with immediate results, professionals get a great foundation for their personal development,” de Kraker adds. As such, the clear data helps to determine more quickly whether a candidate is the right fit, benefiting both stakeholders and professionals. “The Atlas Technical Assessment offers the tools to advance the recruitment process and we can’t wait to roll it out in the coming weeks,” she concludes.
For more information about the Technical Assessment or to register your interest, please contact [email protected] or call Miranda de Kraker on + 31 6 15 05 06 60.
Saipem is pleased to join WindEurope, bringing innovative solutions to shape the future of the offshore wind industry at European and international level.
Saipem is a global solution provider and contractor, leader in engineering activities, and is completing great projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Present in over 70 countries and with 60 years of history, Saipem has unique skills in managing complex projects, from conception to decommissioning, in extreme environments, remote areas and deep waters. We are a global EPCI contractor, controlling the full value chain – engineering, the procurement of materials, production of the structures, installation and maintenance – while ensuring innovation and best value to our customers.
Saipem supports the development of the offshore wind industry, both bottom-fixed and floating, and we are well-equipped to do so. We have our own engineering capabilities in house, we own our fabrication yards in Europe and Asia, and we have a fleet of heavy-lift vessels dedicated to offshore wind.
We have ongoing offshore wind projects in the UK, France and Taiwan as well as projects under development in Italy and Saudi Arabia.
Saipem is always pushing the boundaries to find innovative solutions. One such innovation is our floating wind pendulum technology, Hexafloat, which we are proposing to the market and will demonstrate off the coast of Ireland in 2022. We believe our technology provides a valuable and cutting-edge answer to the industrialisation of floating wind, allowing for cost reductions.
We are also working on other offshore renewables technologies, floating solar and hydrogen, and we are currently developing the Agnes project in the Adriatic, combining an offshore wind farm with floating solar PV and hydrogen production.
Member’s Interview:
We sat down with Adolfo Rebollo, CEO of Ingeteam, to discuss developments in the wind industry, the growth of wind energy technologies, and the impact of COVID-19.
Events
End-of-Life Issues and Strategies Seminar (EoLIS) 2020
When: 18-20 November
We are just a few weeks away from the 2020 edition of WindEurope’s EoLIS Seminar, our deep-dive into the wind turbine end-of-life question.
The three-day event, taking place from 18-20 November, will touch upon some of the major issues facing many wind turbines across Europe as they approach the end of their life cycle over the next 10-15 years. It will bring together many influential thinkers and specialists from across the entire European wind energy field – CEOs and other wind industry figures, as well as European Commission representatives.
In keeping with current health guidelines, this year’s event will be held online – it will be no less interactive, however!
In order to make the discussions more specialised, the topics will be streamlined into dedicated plenary sessions held across the three days. Please find the link to each of the events in the programme here – including a list of speakers and the content:
- Day 1 will cover the aspects of repowering, such as existing Member State frameworks, and associated community benefits;
- Day 2 will dwell on lifetime extension, and the challenges and opportunities that come with it, such the business case and site eligibility;
- Day 3 will be focused on questions of decommissioning and the circularity of turbines.
- There will also be plenty of side-events and opportunities for networking after the main plenaries – hosted by our sponsors (Siemens Gamesa, RES, and UL).
Registration for this event is still open, be sure to sign up while you still can!
WindEnergy Hamburg Digital – Unveiling WindTV
When: 1-4 December
Join us at the start of December for WindEnergy Hamburg Digital, the landmark wind energy event of the year, hosted between Hamburg Messe und Congress and us here at WindEurope.
We are very keen to highlight our WindTV outlet, which will bring you all the freedom and interactivity that you would expect at a physical event provided through a virtual platform. You will be able to switch between studios and engage with speakers as you would in a real-life equivalent.
As mentioned, the service will be split between streams:
- Our Premium Stream – in which WindEurope’s Conference is embedded – will feature panel discussions and interviews. It will focus on a whole scope of topics relevant to wind today, including permitting, community engagement renewable hydrogen, on and offshore innovation, sustainability and circularity, among others. This stream will also feature key industry leaders and policymakers (such as the Energy Minister of Poland). Prices for the Premium Stream are as follows:
- Non-Members: €499
- Members and academics: €349
- Students: €49
- Free for Policymakers/Speakers/National Associations’ Staff/Sponsors
- Our Open Stream will include company presentations and global market deep dives.
A programme will be uploaded soon onto the WindEurope website, as well as speaker profiles and other relevant information!
RE-Source 2020: Bringing together renewable suppliers and off-loaders
When: 7-11 December
The world’s largest PPA event, RE-Source 2020 will see WindEurope, in collaboration with SolarPower Europe, bringing together key renewable energy suppliers and off-loaders from across Europe.
Power-purchasing agreements are fundamental to the decarbonisation of Europe. They enable market-based investment in renewable energy, and between 2016 and 2020, PPA-backed renewable capacity has grown from 2.2 to 9.48 GW. Legislative barriers for PPA negotiations need to be addressed, however, especially at a national level.
While it is online, participants will still be able to fully avail of experience sharing, note-taking and B2B networking. The 5-day programme of the event is as follows:
- Day 1: Get Inspired! – Discussions from policymakers on the European Green Deal and industry representatives eager to meet decarbonisation targets. Will feature people from Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, IKEA, Decathlon, Danone, BT and many others.
- Day 2: Meet the Experts – Representatives from the RE-Source founding organisations as well as energy producer and consumer bodies. We will present our report and its findings on onsite renewables, cross-border PPAs, and invite discussion on this regarding solutions.
- Day 3: Corporate Strategies – Buyers sharing their experiences in live sessions. There will also be a chance for B2B matchmaking opportunities, so book while you still can!
- Day 4: Procuring Clean Electricity – Hosted by our partner Pexapark on technicalities of PPAs, with debates on finance and even the impact of COVID-19 on green procurement investment and financial strategies.
- Day 5: The Future – Focusing on innovation. Green hydrogen, AI and digitalisation storage, data management etc. Eurelectric will be invited to lead this stream. We will also be looking at legislation and the future of European markets. To close with a reception involving Belgian beer (first 200 registrants will get sent packs!)
Registration will be opening soon!
NEW – Power ONshore
When: 17 November, 15:00-17:00 CET
Onshore wind is crucial to delivering the 2030 Climate & Energy targets and in delivering European decarbonisation by 2050. Onshore wind is competitive, innovative and scalable. And deployment brings lots of benefits to European citizens and businesses.
There are still a number of obstacles, however. Onshore development faces significant hurdles starting with complex permitting and a lack of strategy for repowering. Power ONshore aims to spark debates on these issues.
After an initial introduction on the importance of onshore wind to European climate action, with Director-General for Energy Ditte Juul Jørgensen and WE CEO Giles Dickson, there will be two sessions:
- What policy changes and priorities need to be taken to achieve the deployment of 750 GW of onshore wind by 2050
- How to go about addressing the barriers to deployment, such as permitting, and the benefits of community outreach
We will be joined by policymakers (including the Energy Ministers of Portugal and Belgium) and key industry figures (representing the Nordex Group, ENERCON, Enel and Acciona Energy).
WindEurope Electric City 2021 – New Terms & Conditions and Call for Abstracts Deadline
New Terms & Conditions for stand bookings: keep a competitive edge by booking your preferred location risk-free!
WindEurope Electric City 2021, Europe’s biggest wind industry gathering, is scheduled for next April. The well-being of all participants remains our priority, and we are working hard to ensure all Health & Safety requirements are met in order to carry out the event in a safe and comfortable environment.
Conscious of the challenges this year has brought, we have adapted our Terms & Conditions to ensure that you can book your preferred stand location free from any financial risk:
- You can book your stand without any cancellation fees up until 15 January; and
- You will not need to pay a down payment.
Please get in touch if you need support in booking the right spot for you – we are here to help!
Call for Abstracts – Deadline extended to 6 November
The deadline for abstracts has been extended to Friday 6 November, so share your ideas and insights with us while you still can! To submit an abstract, click on the link below!
We will cover:
- Onshore wind;
- Offshore wind; and
- The electrification of the wider energy system.
What kind of content are we looking for?
- Concrete examples of already-implemented operational solutions;
- Experience and feedback from the field, including real-world data; and
- Innovative research, concepts and ideas.
Check out the full list of topics here, as well as a guide on submission guidelines
Partnered Events
TBB.Connect – Your digital meeting point for the trusted sustainable energy ecosystem
EIT InnoEnergy’s TBB.Connect! from 4-5 November will bring together innovators and industry representatives from all corners of the world – giving attendees the chance to trigger and create new sustainable business opportunities. What’s more – our entire WindEurope network has exclusive access to a 10% discount.
Simply use the code TBB_WE10off
Discover 150+ cutting edge sustainable energy innovations, and enjoy the ease of online, effective and relevant B2B meetings and networking sessions all in one place. Bringing together industry, investors, policymakers and start-ups, TBB.Connect offers:
- An exclusive opportunity to meet the most promising sustainable energy start-ups from around the globe;
- More than 100 pitching sessions from innovators spanning the entire energy value chain, pre-qualified and enhanced by EIT InnoEnergy;
- A virtual exhibition area showcasing more than 150 sustainable energy technologies; and
- The ease of online, effective, and relevant B2B meetings and networking sessions all in one place.
How to deliver the European 2030 climate & energy targets
The session will explore the crucial role wind energy plays in achieving the EU 2030 and 2050 climate & energy targets and in contributing to a European green recovery generating jobs, turnover, exports. It foresees the presence of European and Italian policy-makers as well as industry representatives. The session is held in English and is co-organized by ANEV, Elettricità Futura and WindEurope.
Virtual 19th Wind Integration Workshop from 11-12 November 2020
Join the only science-to-industry platform with a full focus on Renewable Energy Grid Integration!
Get the latest research and project experiences in grid codes, power system modeling and many more grid related topics. NEW: two special sessions on IEA Wind Tasks.
The special topic this year will be Grid Forming with two sessions dedicated to grid forming aspects and one focus session on grid forming converters. Learn more about the role of Ancillary Services as well with the Introductory Wind Tutorial that precedes the Workshop on 10 November 2020.
