WindEurope Bulletin
WindEurope Bulletin November 2024
5 November 2024
A word from the CEO
Dear WindEurope member,
Many thanks to all of you who came to the annual RE-Source Event in Amsterdam on PPAs and corporate sourcing of renewables. It was a record turnout – 1,400 people including 350+ buyers. And there were lots of new insights on renewables procurement and PPA opportunities.
PPAs are key to the EU’s new focus on the decarbonisation of industry – as part of its “Clean Industrial Deal”. The new EU Commission are being guided by ex-Central Bank Governor Mario Draghi’s report on competitiveness. Draghi singled out PPAs as a key factor in strengthening industrial resilience. Too right. They allow companies to buy clean energy at fair and predictable prices – and help fast-track renewables.
The new EU Commission is likely to take office on 1 December. It’s now confirmed that the Energy Commissioner will be Dan Jørgensen, former Danish Energy & Climate Minister. He’s committed already to treat the accelerated build-out of renewables and grids as a top priority. We will be pressing him to further strengthen Europe’s wind industry after last year’s EU Wind Power Package. And to resist the temptation to re-open Europe’s Electricity Market Design.
The Wind Power Package continues to bear fruit. Last week the EU Innovation Fund (IF) awarded grants to six wind turbine manufacturing plants. Each grant is worth €30-60m and will fund facilities in Denmark, Germany, Poland and Spain. It’s the first time we have won grants from the IF. Using it to support our factories was a clear commitment in the Wind Power Package.
National Governments are also doing more to support the supply chain. The German Government have published an Action Plan on the wind industry. It stresses the need to restore fair competition between European and non-European manufacturers. It highlights the importance of data security and keeping control of turbine components in safe hands. And it opens the possibility of significant support for manufacturing investments from the public bank the KfW.
The UK is an important focus for us right now. A key issue is to settle the electricity trading arrangements between the EU and the UK. The formula envisaged in the Brexit agreement doesn’t work. Together with the relevant TSOs and other generators we are urging the EU to offer the UK some form of connection to the single day-ahead coupling. The EU Commission are key to making that happen. Solving the issue is key to getting the UK more involved in cross-border collaboration on offshore wind in the North Sea.
A quick word on events. EoLIS, our workshop on ageing turbines, is in Gothenburg next month, from 4-5 December. Here is the programme, and you can click here to register. Do join if you can.
Kind regards,
Giles Dickson
WindEurope Intelligence Platform
Corporate Power Purchase Agreements in Europe
With green corporate procurement expanding right across the continent, WindEurope have released a new interactive tool looking at the PPA market in greater detail.
You can use the tool to see the number of signed PPAs and contracted capacity at a European and national level. The data is further broken down by technology type, buyers and sellers, and economic sectors.
Five megatrends in wind energy technology
This ETIPWind factsheet summarises the 5 main wind energy technology megatrends. It has been defined based on the input gathered during an ETIPWind workshop organised in June 2024. This factsheet is developed in the framework of the SETIPWind project.
Members’ Successes
UPTIME International Marks a Milestone with the Delivery of UPTIME 150 to Hornbeck Offshore
UPTIME are pleased to announce that UPTIME 150 was shipped from their facilities last week for installation on the vessel HOS Rocinante, which will enter service in 2025. The HOS Rocinante will be the first Jones Act-compliant SOV conversion for the US offshore renewables market. As the latest delivery in a long line of UPTIME systems, this milestone reflects the confidence clients have placed in the UPTIME brand since the beginning.
Hornbeck Offshore is a leading provider of offshore services and marine transportation, primarily serving the energy sector in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and Latin America. This is the third UPTIME delivery to Hornbeck Offshore, further strengthening their partnership and commitment to enhancing the safety and operational efficiency of their fleet.
The UPTIME system is designed to handle the demands of modern offshore operations. The delivery includes a UPTIME 30-metre logistics system for personnel and cargo transfers and an elevator tower providing workers with safe and reliable access to offshore installations. The system also features AI-driven automation and a fully integrated UPTIME by Motus 3D crane with a 15T/5T capacity for cargo operations.
The system will be integrated with the UPTIME Digital Ecosystem, offering key functions such as real-time motion management, automated personnel tracking, predictive maintenance capabilities, and other advanced tools. This integration enhances safety and efficiency, equipping operators and crew with advanced decision-making tools to improve overall operational performance.
“The delivery of UPTIME 150 reflects the trust our clients place in us, built on our long history and expertise in the field and track-record of reliable systems. We are proud to continue supporting Hornbeck Offshore and look forward to further strengthening this partnership”, says Eivind Stonghaugen Larsen, Project Manager OEM in UPTIME International.
Share your successes with us!
Is your brand bringing new, ground-breaking solutions to the wind industry? Have you recently launched a major project in your field? Do you have positive business news to share?
Then make sure to get in touch with us here at WindEurope – we’ll be happy to promote your success story as part of our monthly Bulletin! This is a chance to share your accomplishments with thousands of others from right across the wind energy value chain – a major visibility boost.
Please be aware that this service is only available to members from the categories C3 and above. Publication of stories is on a first come, first served basis.
Get in touch with our Membership team now to send in your news!
Advertorials
Vattenfall – Renewable energy needed? Find your energy match!
Promote your business for the future with Vattenfall’s Corporate PPAs. Purchase renewable electricity directly from wind or solar plants and secure long-term, fixed-price contracts.
With Vattenfall’s extensive expertise, your company can hedge against price fluctuations, improve its carbon footprint, and support renewable energy production—all while avoiding upfront investments. Our CPPAs offer a reliable, certified source of renewable power helping you meet your environmental goals and contribute to climate protection. Explore our markets across Europe and find the perfect renewable energy solution for your business.
S&P – Unlocking Opportunities: Explore Our Global Corporate Power Purchasing Agreement Database
S&P Global Commodity Insights enhances transparency in the renewable energy sector, empowering both voluntary and compliance markets with essential infrastructure, price assessments, and insights.
Our expertise covers sustainability aspects, including risk and opportunity. Our comprehensive Global Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) database showcases contracts by location, project type, technology, off-taker sector, supplier, and MW contracted globally, including recent enhancements for data centre operators. Clients can discover which countries are attractive for Corporate PPAs, the volume and type of contracts signed, and which renewable technologies appeal to off-takers. Get in touch with us to shape a sustainable energy future with informed decisions!
Events
RE-Source 2024
Thank you to everyone who came to RE-Source 2024 in Amsterdam this October! With 1,400 attendees, 350 corporate energy buyers, and with 400+ B2B meetings across the week, this was a chance to fast-track the growth of PPAs in Europe, to hear inspiring discussions and to learn all about the benefits of renewable energy procurement.
Check out our post-event video here for a fun recap of this year’s gathering – and make sure to take a look at our photo gallery too to spot yourself in the crowd! We’ll see you back in Amsterdam on 4-5 November 2025 for the next edition of RE-Source!
EoLIS 2024
For the sixth edition of EoLIS, WindEurope’s End-of-Life Issues and Strategies Seminar, we’re heading north to Gothenburg, Sweden from 4-5 December!
Every year this event brings 250+ turbine enthusiasts together from across Europe and beyond. Some newcomers, but many returning delegates and top industry and academic minds – the driving force for innovative solutions when it comes to repowering, decommissioning and sustainable solutions.
Why come to EoLIS?
- Have a background in wind energy research, operation, finance or resource management? Here’s why EoLIS might interest you.
- Don’t miss this chance to hear from leading experts in turbine design and sustainability. Check out the speaker list.
- Network with hundreds of industry colleagues new and old across the event and at a special networking dinner at the National Science Centre of Sweden.
- Sample the wintry delights of Gothenburg – including Christmas markets, seasonal treats, design, nature and more. Check out our travel page for more information.
Take a look at out the two-day programme here, and click here to register! We’ll see you in December!
