WindEurope Bulletin
WindEurope Bulletin October 2020
2 October 2020
CEO Foreword
We have a new Chairman! Please join me in congratulating MHI Vestas’ CEO Philippe Kavafyan in being elected Chair of WindEurope for the next 18 months. And EDF Renewables’ Nicolas Couderc who has been elected as our Vice Chair. On behalf of all the Association, can I also thank Gunnar Groebler for his outstanding service and commitment as our Chair for the past 18 months – and Nordex’s Tony Adam who was an excellent Vice Chair. They have done a lot of important work with us – and there’s a lot more still to do …
As you may have seen, the European Commission have now proposed that the EU should raise its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target to at least 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990). This is a significant increase from today’s 40% target. It would set the EU on a credible trajectory towards climate neutrality.
Two things on this. Of course, it is good news for our industry. Implementing this higher objective means more renewables and reinforcing the EU Emissions Trading System, so a higher CO2 price. Wind energy is competitive, scalable and our industry is ready to deliver on these new targets. That’s all fine.
But – and I cannot overstate this – higher targets are no good if existing barriers to wind energy remain. These targets remain purely academic if we cannot build wind farms because of short-sighted policy obstacles on the ground. Too many Member States are completely off-target when it comes to rules around permitting and repowering. This has got to change. When the EU issues its State of the Energy Union in mid-October, it will come with country-specific recommendations to all 27 Member States on improvements they should make to their National Energy and Climate Plans. These should go some way to addressing the policy bottlenecks our industry faces in permitting and repowering. But we cannot afford to be complacent on this. We will keep you up to date on all our work on this in the weeks and months ahead.
Our event in Hamburg, organised with Hamburg Messe und Congress (HMC), will now take place fully online, from 1-4 December. A new digital offer, that includes special packages for exhibitors, visitors as well as conference attendees will be communicated in the coming weeks. As part of the Hamburg event, WindEurope’s team has developed a new concept of a “WindTV” channel that will provide a new, user friendly concept, allowing people to learn and exchange expertise in a more creative and effective manner than a classical online event. We’ll cover permitting, community engagement, electrification, renewable hydrogen, technology and innovation, the wind energy supply chain and many other issues as part of the “WindTV” programme. Our Event Ambassadors, RWE, MHI Vestas and Vattenfall, were indispensable in putting this new concept together. Thank you!
Can I also remind you that the call for abstracts for Electric City, our event next year in Copenhagen, will close on 23 October. More on that below.
And don’t forget our next event, our online End-of-Life Issues & Strategies Seminar (EoLIS) on 19-20 November – covering the latest developments in repowering and lifetime extensions.
I wish you an enjoyable read.
Giles Dickson
It’s back to school time for everyone – so make the most of these new WindEurope resources!
Get the new school year off to a flying start with these brand new WindEurope resources, perfect to share with your colleagues, kids, and everyone in between!
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Let the Wind BlowOur fully-illustrated children’s book on wind energy, now available in 23 languages, and new features added to the website! This is an ideal introduction to wind for any children you know! |
Wind BasicsStill want to learn more? In simple, clear graphics, this web page explains everything you’ve ever wanted to know about wind energy (…but were afraid to ask). |
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WindEurope InstagramJoin our online community, learn about wind facts, discover new destinations, and connect with fans of wind energy! Share your photos and tag us with @windeurope so we can see and like your posts! |
Onshore InfographicThis graphic explains everything you need to know about onshore wind in Europe today – all the essential facts and figures in one simple, beautiful image (perfect for sharing with friends and colleagues)! |
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Policy News
EU Recovery Plan takes shape
Guidance issued by the European Commission on 17 September puts climate action and renewable energy at the centre of the EU’s forthcoming €750 billion Recovery Plan. Member States and the European Parliament will finalise their respective positions in October, before beginning discussions with the European Commission.
The European Commission’s Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2021 provides guidance on how to implement the €672.5bn Recovery & Resilience Facility (RRF). The RRF will be distributed to Member States in the form of grants and loads to support a sustainable economic recovery going into the medium-term. The money will be spent in line with national Recovery & Resilience Plans.
Importantly, the new guidance specifies that each of these Plans needs to include a minimum of 37% of expenditure “related to climate”. In addition, the plans must “Do No Harm”, i.e. ensure that no funding goes to projects that would harm the environment.
The Commission’s guidance identifies renewable energy as a priority for the national Recovery & Resilience Plans. It targets the building and sector integration of almost 40% of the 500 GW of renewable power generation needed by 2030, the installation 6 GW of electrolyser capacity, and the production and transportation of 1 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen across the EU by 2025.
Action at the national level is key. The Recovery & Resilience Plans should earmark substantial envelopes for grid infrastructure, renewable energy auctions, ports, renewable hydrogen, and research & innovation.
The RRF is not the only component of the Recovery Plan. €10 billion of the €17.5 billion Just Transition Fund will be frontloaded under the strategy. This fund is designed to support regions in their transition away from fossil fuels, particularly coal. In addition, the EU Recovery Plan will frontload almost €6 billion of InvestEU – a European Commission guarantee intended to de-risk projects to facilitate investments in projects and strategic supply chains by the European Investment Bank and other public financial institutions.
It is hoped that the European Commission, European Parliament, and Member States in the EU Council will reach agreement in time for the Recovery Plan to enter into operation on 1 January 2021.
Members’ news
New Dentons guide to investing in renewable energy projects in Europe in 2020
The first half of 2020 has seen a number of significant market and regulatory developments in the European renewables industry, with the impact of COVID-19 — and the sector’s responses to it — being the dominant feature.
Although the pandemic has interrupted many renewables projects, Bloomberg’s figures for investment in new renewable energy capacity in the first half of the year show healthy growth across a number of European markets. This is coupled with the strong drive to accelerate progress towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions and ensure a green recovery.
Dentons’ has produced a half-year supplement to the 2020 edition of its guide, “Investing in renewable energy projects in Europe.” Here, you can see how governments and regulators across 21 countries in Europe and Central Asia have responded to the impact of COVID-19 and how, in most cases, they have also continued to develop their renewables policies for the longer term in helpful ways.
IDEOL and BBRG sign Floating Offshore Wind Strategic Partnership and develop new product
Ideol, an international pioneer in floating offshore wind, and Bridon-Bekaert Ropes Group (BBRG), a key supplier of mission-critical advanced cables and ropes, have signed a strategic partnership. It aims to develop a new industry-transforming synthetic mooring solution to meet the fast accelerating floating offshore wind market’s cost-reduction, capacity and lead-time expectations.
“Mooring solutions and offshore installation have a significant impact on a project’s CAPEX and OPEX,” said Paul de la Guérivière, CEO of IDEOL, “and it is imperative for IDEOL to leverage its pioneering efforts with synthetic mooring and further reduce the LCOE of floating wind. Collaborating with Bridon-Bekaert is another great example of IDEOL teaming up with internationally recognized industry leaders capable of providing local employment and offering local value creation.”
This partnership will combine IDEOL’s pioneering implementation and unique return on experience of permanent synthetic mooring solutions on floating offshore wind turbines and BBRG’s extensive expertise in developing innovative mooring products. John Churchfield, CTO of Bridon-Bekaert Ropes Group, added that “Bridon-Bekaert has a long tradition of manufacturing both synthetic and steel mooring lines for the offshore oil and gas industry. Since our day 1 interaction with Ideol, we realised that applying existing oil & gas cable technology leads to unnecessary high system cost. Today, we are proud to be at a point where we can convert all our cumulated application insights into the development of a custom rope concept fit for the specific operating environment of floating wind.”
The partnership aims to take full advantage of BBRG’s historic presence and production capabilities in Scotland in light of the ScotWind upcoming lease tenders and future floating offshore wind farms off the coast of Scotland.
Welcoming RTE international to the WindEurope Team!
RTE international is delighted to join WindEurope, and to begin working alongside its members in helping to build the future of wind energy.
“In an interconnected European grid, the transmission system is key to enabling wind generation development. It allows a consumer in France to benefit from energy produced in Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland or Portugal. New interconnection technologies will make it possible to push the boundaries and plan for the mass development of offshore wind generation. As an experienced power system consulting company, we foster safe wind generation integration into the grid, while improving energy supply security” said Nicolas Bréham, RTE international CEO.
RTE international have extensive expertise in High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) interconnection studies and the largest multivendor Realtime Simulation Lab for HVDC and FACTS in Europe. We have recently been sponsored by the National HVDC Centre, SSE plc and National Grid ESO, to provide a methodology and recommendations to carry out studies required to connect offshore wind farms through HVDC links in Great Britain. Offshore wind farm connections involve different manufacturers, each with their own technology. We have established a set of recommendations for the studies to be conducted, regardless of the converter stations manufacturers, which will then reduce the risks. This is a founding step in achieving Britain’s ambition to reach 40GW of offshore wind power by 2030.
Member’s Interview:
WindEurope Member’s Interview with Martin Jakubowski, Chairman and President of Seawind Ocean Technology.
We sat down with Martin Jakubowski to discuss developments in the wind industry, the growth of wind energy technologies, and the impact of COVID-19.
Events
WindEurope Sofa Talks
Most of Europe is still working from home! Make yourself a cup of coffee and join WindEurope experts and guests, directly from our sofas to yours! WindEurope Sofa Talks continues to be a popular series of free interactive webinars dedicated to the most important issues facing wind energy today. Click on the links below to see who is speaking!
Upcoming webinars
- Wind energy, civil aviation and the military: key partners
7 October, 14:00-14:45 CEST - Launch of WindEurope Flagship report: Wind energy and economic recovery in Europe
16 October, 10:00-11:00 CEST - R&I funding under the Green Deal: what’s in it for wind?
22 October 16:00-16:45 CEST
Call for abstracts closing soon for Electric City: 2021’s largest on- and offshore wind event
To counter climate change, we have embarked on a journey towards an electric future, powered by clean energy from wind and other renewables.
We are calling for abstracts on technologies, concepts, research, ideas and solutions that will help speed up this transition.
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS: 23 October 2020
What is the scope?
We will cover onshore wind, offshore wind and the electrification of the wider energy system.
What kind of contributions are we looking for?
We are looking for concrete examples of already-implemented operational solutions, experience and feedback from the field, including real-world data, as well as innovative research, concepts and ideas, under the following headline topics:
- Onshore wind;
- Offshore wind;
- Electrifying the energy system
Countdown begins to WindEurope’s End-of-Life Issues and Strategies seminar
When: 18-20 November
Where: Online
WindEurope’s 2020 edition of the EoLIS Seminar is fast approaching, and preparations for it are also gathering pace.
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.
While the current health situation and associated travel restrictions mean this year’s edition will be held online, it promises to be no less high-profile, lively or insightful!
In order to make the discussions more specialised, the topics will be streamlined into dedicated plenary sessions held across the three days:
- 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.
Registration for this event is now open, and we will be sure to keep you up to speed on the latest developments. Early registration is strongly advised!
Workshop on Operating wind farms under the new Clean Energy Package: Dealing with new curtailment and congestion management rules
When: 28 October, 9:30 to 12:30
Where: Online
To register: Send an email to [email protected]
Would you like to know more about the implementation of the Clean Energy Package (CEP) and how it is changing the energy market landscape for the wind sector? Do you want to better understand what different EU countries are doing with regards to redispatch, congestion management & curtailment rules?
Join us on 28 October as we host a technical workshop with the wind industry, as well as expert guest speakers from TSOs, DSOs, the European Commission and government representatives. We will assess how far national legislation is adapting to the new electricity regulation. We will discuss how curtailment rules and compensation are changing. We will see how dispatching actions and balancing markets can be further integrated. We will also see how the balancing market is evolving now that renewable energy assets are no longer exempted from possible imbalances.
A detailed agenda and connection link will follow soon. Please note that participation in the workshop is reserved for WindEurope members that have access to our Working Groups’ activities.
If you would like to actively contribute to the discussion (e.g. by giving a presentation), contact Vasiliki Klonari.
Other Events
RE-Source calling!
RE-Source webinar: Keeping sustainability and profitability on track through corporate Power Purchase Agreements
When: 8 October, 16:00-17:00 CEST
How do we ensure that corporate PPAs remain both sustainable and profitable throughout their lifetime? Is this a balance that is easy to keep, or will it need constant maintenance, and how will this change after the current crisis? Join the discussion and find out how corporate PPAs are kept on track in the long term.
RE-Source webinar: Operating and maintaining renewable energy plants: the future of the work environment
When: 22 October, 11:00-12:00 CEST
Renewable energy generators and service providers have had to automate and digitalise their processes at speeds never seen before due to the impact of the global pandemic. What does the current situation mean for the work environment in the short to medium-term, and how will we be operating and maintaining energy generation facilities in 5 years compared to now? Join the debate with industry leaders to learn more.
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
Use this discount code for 30% off: HYBRID20_WINDEUROPE_30
This October: join ECOHACK, the PPA Hackathon!
When: 9 October
Where: London
This October, Zeigo will host ECOHACK® – the renewable energy hackathon that aims to democratise Power Purchase Agreements.
In partnership with Scottish Power and DLA Piper, the hackathon will challenge participants to create digital solutions that enable groups of businesses to contract energy directly from wind and solar farms.
The event will unify those interested in creating smart energy solutions to increase accessibility to the renewable energy market. Winners will be invited to showcase their innovative project to the industry’s key players in a webinar organised with RE100 members
