WindEurope Bulletin
WindEurope Bulletin October 2018
8 October 2018
Giles Dickson
CEO Foreword
Dear WindEurope Member,
First of all, let me say a big ‘thank you’ to all of you who joined us in Hamburg last month for the Global Wind Summit. I hope you enjoyed it.
It was the first time the WindEurope conference and the WindEnergy Hamburg exhibition had taken place under the same roof. That made a big difference. I hope you agree the co-location and integration of the two events made for a dynamic interaction between all the different players in the industry.
More than 2,000 conference delegates delved into the key issues facing the industry, and how wind is “breaking new ground” geographically, technologically and financially. We had top-level speakers such as EU Climate & Energy Commissioner, Miguel Arias Cañete, and IEA Executive Director, Fatih Birol, plus European energy ministers. And overall there were more than 500 presenters from the wind industry, government, finance, academia and other stakeholders.
You may have seen we issued a new report at the event, ‘Breaking new ground’ which sets out the case for the increased electrification of Europe’s economy. It shows electricity is less than a quarter of Europe’s energy and, while we’re doing OK getting renewables into electricity, the rest (heating, transport, industry) is still mostly powered by fossil fuels. That’s got to change if we’re going to decarbonise the economy. Electrifying heating, transport and industry is the answer, and the report shows we have the technology to do it and it’s affordable.
Action on electrification is one of the things we’re now pushing Governments in Europe to include in their 2030 National Energy and Climate Plans that they have to submit to Brussels at the end of this year. I’ve mentioned these National Plans to you before. They’re crucial. They’ll set out among other things the new renewables each country plans to deploy between now and 2030. So they’ll define the shape and size of the markets you’re all operating in for the next 10 years. We have to get them right. Wherever you are in Europe, please engage your Government and make the case loudly for maximum ambition in their National Plan. That means maximum volumes for new build – and a clear plan (repowering, life extension) for existing assets that reach end-of-life between now and 2030.
Other products from Hamburg are a new WindEurope policy blueprint’ on floating offshore wind. And a new infographic from our Ports Platform showing how Investment in ports reduces the cost of offshore wind. Here are the photos and the conference proceedings from Hamburg.
Sticking with events, our annual corporate-renewable energy sourcing event RE-Source 2018 is coming up in Amsterdam on 20-21 November. I’m sure you’ll have noticed that the number of corporates signing Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with wind just keeps on growing. Last year’s inaugural RE-Source event was an enormous success. This year we have a bigger venue, more conference sessions and networking opportunities. The programme for the event is now online. Do join us.
Finally, the EU is still negotiating the re-design of Europe’s electricity markets as part of the Clean Energy Package. We have three priorities:
- to protect priority despatch for existing wind farms and ensure the “last curtailed” rule that replaces it for new renewables is watertight – and that there’s full compensation for any losses;
- more transparency around “must-run” arrangements with conventional power plants; and
- ensuring capacity remuneration mechanisms remain temporary only. They risk prolonging overcapacity in Europe’s power system at significant cost to consumers if they’re not phased out over time once introduced.
We’ll keep you updated on how this progresses.
Giles Dickson
Policy news
WindEurope puts forward the case for a renewables-based electrification in Europe
Last week WindEurope launched its flagship report "Breaking new ground” at the Global Wind Summit in Hamburg. The report sets out two possible pathways to decarbonise Europe’s economy by 2050. We found that a renewables-based electrification is both realistic and affordable. And in the process, Europe could capitalise on its global leadership in wind energy technologies.
Europe has done very well in getting renewables into electricity. But electricity is only about one quarter of the total energy that we consume. The majority of energy used in industrial processes, transport and for heating our buildings is still based on fossil fuels. We have to change that.
We show that the renewables-based electrification of Europe’s industrial processes, buildings and transport would reduce energy-related CO2 emissions by 90% by 2050. Electricity use in the entire economy would rise from 24% today to 62% in 2050. Industrial processes could be 86% electrified and buildings, both commercial and households, could be 64%.
Moreover, wind energy could cover 36% of Europe’s power generation by 2050. And 78% of all the electricity would come from renewables. This would mean an average build-out rate of 20 GW per year of wind power projects between 2030 and 2050.
The report also explores the features that our power system would require to make this reality. We will need more power grids, and they need to be stronger and smarter. And we will need to couple electricity with the production of other energy carriers, like hydrogen. This would mean that we need a more integrated and flexible approach to planning and operating the energy system. And whilst the challenges may seem daunting, the benefits are worth the effort.
We would improve air quality and health for citizens, improve security of supply by reducing dependency on fuel from abroad, and with the rapid development of digitalisation, consumers would be better-suited to take a more active role in their energy consumption and save costs.
We invite you to read the report, explore the data behind it and watch the great video we prepared to accompany the launch.
Members’ News
Envision releases EnScope™
At the Global Wind Summit, Envision announced the launch of EnScope™, a project siting tool developed in cooperation with Stanford University and Aarhus University. It makes siting for wind turbine projects and other infrastructure smarter, reducing the time needed to analyse and identify optimal siting opportunities from 3-4 weeks to only one hour.
EnScope is a smart siting tool based on open data sources including Copernicus, open street map and national data sources. It can be applied to wind farm siting as well as infrastructure planning across countries and even larger regions. For example, when you enter site restrictions, such as noise, distance to neighbours and buildings, Natura 2000 areas, mountain steepness and so-forth, it becomes visible how onshore wind turbines in Europe could actually cover the world’s energy consumption. Thus, the lack of unrestricted space is not the right argument for choosing other energy sources.
Pierre Tardieu, Chief Policy Officer at WindEurope states, "Europe has just agreed to a 32% target for renewable energy to 2030. This will require a significant ramp up of wind energy. Innovations like EnScope will play a pivotal role in helping developers navigate a complex regulatory environment and identify the best sites for cost effective wind energy deployment."
A big advantage of EnScope is that you can actually add positives to the search parameters as well as restrictions. This means that you can identify the best wind resources close to features such as electrical infrastructure or transportation routes, and at the same time exclude areas that will fall on country specific restrictions.
"I believe that EnScope will help the wind industry significantly reduce the time spent on siting and deliver new and better opportunities to optimal siting of their wind farms with this new, smart siting tool," states Peter Enevoldsen, Assistant Professor at Aarhus University, Product Owner of 3rd Part Applications at Envision, and Founder of EnScope.
MHI Vestas launches the first 10 MW wind turbine in history
The offshore wind industry’s long-anticipated, double-digit barrier has been broken. MHI Vestas Offshore Wind made the announcement at the Global Wind Summit in Hamburg: its V164 turbine platform has now achieved a power rating of 10 MW.
“What was unreachable before has become the new benchmark,” said MHI Vestas CEO, Philippe Kavafyan. “In launching the V164-10.0 MW today, MHI Vestas is proud to contribute this major milestone to the offshore wind industry. And it gives us the opportunity to pay tribute to all the wind industry pioneers who have led us to this historic, double-digit nominal capacity.”
The barrier-breaking model is built on proven technology and lessons learned from previous installations of the V164 platform, promising a level of certainty and reliability for customers of the V164-10.0 MW from day one.
With more than 100 V164 turbines already installed in the UK and Germany, MHI Vestas has been able to leverage technological learnings and incremental innovations to push the boundaries of its flexible platform from 8 MW now up to 10 MW.
WindEurope press trip illustrates how wind industry is breaking new ground
The Global Wind Summit took place under the theme of ‘Breaking new ground’. The event looked at how wind is breaking new ground geographically, technologically and financially. During the event, WindEurope organised a press trip to visit Siemens Gamesa and Nordex to demonstrate how the industry is breaking new ground in terms of new technologies such as storage and digitalisation.
WindEurope took a group of journalists (from media including the New York Times, Handelsblatt and Les Echos) to see Siemens Gamesa’s ETES storage facility and the Nordex Academy in Hamburg.
Based in the Port of Hamburg, Siemens Gamesa’s ETES facility is due to open early next year. The storage system stores electricity as heat in hot stones (around 1,000 tonnes of volcanic rock heated to over 600 degrees Celsius). A steam turbine then converts the thermal energy back into electricity. The plant will be able to supply around 30 MWh of electricity.
The trip concluded with a tour of the Nordex Academy with a focus on how data can bring down costs in predictive maintenance, together with Bachmann electronic. Journalists learnt about how software can help cut costs thanks to predictive maintenance. Journalists also had the opportunity to visit the on-site training centre where service staff, customers and subcontractors are trained in maintenance in full-sized nacelles.
If you have an innovative technology that you think could be of interest to a group of European journalists, please get in touch with: [email protected]
Events
Registration now open for RE-Source 2018 – connecting renewable energy buyers and sellers
When: 20 – 21 November
Where: Amsterdam
The premier event for corporate renewable energy buyers and sellers to influence, educate and connect.
Preschedule a B2B meeting with leading clean energy buyers or providers such as Enel Green Power, Engie, Google, Microsoft, RES and Iberdrola today.
WindEurope Conference & Exhibition 2019
Call for solutions at the WindEurope Conference 2019 – Deadline for submission: 20 October 2018
Do you have a solution for a problem facing wind energy today?
At the WindEurope Conference and Exhibition 2019, we are taking a solutions-based approach to build our conference programme. Our 2019 conference will be a platform for innovative, thought-provoking ideas and projects. This will provide a unique learning experience for all delegates and benefit the whole industry.
Are you ready to answer this call?
Over 60% 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.
WindEurope Offshore 2019
When: 26 – 28 November
Where: Copenhagen
Come to the home of wind industry giants like Vestas, Ørsted, MHI Vestas and LM Wind Power for WindEurope’s dedicated offshore wind energy event.
Denmark is the leader in wind energy penetration, with wind energy producing enough electricity to cover 44% of its domestic consumption last year.
Exhibition space is already running out – so book your stand soon
Other events
The Business Booster by InnoEnergy
When: 17 – 18 October
Where: Copenhagen
The Business Booster is an annual two-day international networking event that showcases 150+ sustainable energy technologies under one roof.
Enjoy B2B meetings with over 700 attendees, including start-ups, energy industry representatives, financial communities, policy makers and regulators.
WindEurope Members get 30% off the registration fee.
Just enter the discount code TBB2018_WINDEUROPE upon registration.
