Schlagwort: renewables

Okt. 26

Research and innovation vital to sustain wind energy cost reductions and keep industry in Europe

As the EU negotiates the details of its next flagship research and innovation programme – Horizon Europe – channelling resources to the right places will be critical to decarbonise and continue growing Europe’s economy. The Technology and Innovation Platform ETIPWind has released a series of recommendations on where the EU should focus in Research and Innovation funding in wind energy.
The €94bn Horizon Europe research and innovation programme will identify key challenges and priorities for research and innovation funding from 2021-2027. It is critical that a significant portion is allocated to climate action in general and to the ‘Climate, Energy & Mobility’ challenge in particular.

Mai 24

Local impact of wind energy at heart of new industry push for renewables ambition

WindEurope today launched a new “Local Impact, Global Leadership” toolkit that maps out the local economic benefits of wind energy.

With the future of renewables in Europe at stake in Clean Energy Package negotiations, now is a critical time to show policy-makers the local economic benefits of wind energy to make the case for more renewables ambition.

On a macro level, wind energy contributes €36bn to EU GDP, supports 263,000 jobs and generates €8bn of exports. But until now, the local micro-economic benefits were less well-known. Where are the jobs? Where are the turbine factories? Where’s the rest of the supply chain? How do communities and local councils benefit from having wind farms?

März 29

Can European funds help support cross-border cooperation on renewables?

WindEurope called for a European approach to the deployment of renewable energy deployment at a workshop organised by the European Commission on Thursday. The workshop explored how the EU’s financial framework for 2019-2023 can be aligned with the new post-2020 renewable energy laws, the so-called Clean Energy Package.

The Package – currently under negotiation and due to be wrapped up by the end of 2018 – sets out different options for cross-border cooperation. These include opening up national support schemes or setting up a European financing platform, whereby countries pitch in to a common fund for renewables projects in case the bloc fails to reach its 2030 target.

Feb. 21

EU funding for electricity infrastructure will help wind energy reach consumers

The European Commission has announced the winners of its latest Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funding round. It set aside €873 million to invest in key European energy infrastructure projects. Of the 17 energy projects selected for funding, eight are in electricity. With €680 million, it’s the first CEF round in which electricity received more funding than gas.

Jan. 19

European Parliament gives strong backing for future of renewables

Members of the European Parliament today gave a resounding vote in favour of renewables in Europe.

MEPs called for a renewable energy target of 35% for 2030 – rather than the 27% which the European Commission proposed in 2016.

Giles Dickson, WindEurope CEO, said: “Good on the Parliament. 35% makes sense economically. Consumers benefit – wind is now the cheapest form of new power generation in Europe. And wind is a key part of European manufacturing and exports – it supports 263,000 jobs in Europe industry and contributes €36bn to EU GDP. A 27% target puts all that at risk. And 27% carries a major opportunity cost.

Jan. 03

Corporates call for greater government ambition on renewables ahead of EU Energy Council Meeting

Major multinationals and energy companies call for greater EU policy ambition to unlock the potential of renewables in Europe’s energy mix.

Some of the world’s largest multinationals and energy companies today issued a joint declaration urging EU Member States to support a renewable energy target of at least 35% by 2030. The declaration was signed by members of RE100, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Solar Power Europe and WindEurope. It includes Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Unilever and Ikea.

The declaration states that corporate renewable power purchase agreements (PPAs) are key to building Europe’s clean energy transition. But in order to do so across Europe, the companies urge EU Energy Ministers to help them by adopting effective provisions in the new Renewable Energy Directive.

Okt. 18

WindEurope CEO talks priorities for the Clean Energy Package to EU policy-makers

This morning in Brussels, WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson spoke to policy-makers at the annual high-level expert conference organised by the European Forum for Renewable Energy Sources (Eufores).

Okt. 04

Solar PV grew faster than any other fuel in 2016, opening a new era for solar power

New solar PV capacity grew by 50% last year, with China accounting for almost half of the global expansion, according to the International Energy Agency’s latest renewables market analysis and forecast. For the first time, solar PV additions rose faster than any other fuel, surpassing the net growth in coal.

Boosted by a strong solar PV market, renewables accounted for almost two-thirds of net new power capacity around the world last year, with almost 165 gigawatts (GW) coming online, according to the new report, Renewables 2017. Renewables will continue to have a strong growth in coming years. By 2022, renewable electricity capacity should increase by 43%.

“We see renewables growing by about 1,000 GW by 2022, which equals about half of the current global capacity in coal power, which took 80 years to build,” said Dr Fatih Birol, the executive director of the IEA. “What we are witnessing is the birth of a new era in solar PV. We expect that solar PV capacity growth will be higher than any other renewable technology through 2022.”

This year’s renewable forecastis 12% higher than last year, thanks mostly to solar PV upward revisions in China and India. Three countries – China, India and the United States – will account for two-thirds of global renewable expansion by 2022. Total solar PV capacity by then would exceed the combined total power capacities of India and Japan today.

März 08

WindEurope talks auctions for South East Europe

WindEurope participated in a one-day workshop on auctions organised by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna. The workshop aimed to provide guidance to the Energy Community members on the key elements for efficient auctions and to present best practices from around the world. Participants included the European Commission, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, government and industry representatives.

Okt. 25

IEA raises its five-year renewable growth forecast as 2015 marks record year

The International Energy Agency said today that it was significantly increasing its five-year growth forecast for renewables thanks to strong policy support in key countries and sharp cost reductions. Renewables have surpassed coal last year to become the largest source of installed power capacity in the world.

The latest edition of the IEA’s Medium-Term Renewable Market Report now sees renewables growing 13% more between 2015 and 2021 than it did in last year’s forecast, due mostly to stronger policy backing in the United States, China, India and Mexico. Over the forecast period, costs are expected to drop by a quarter in solar PV and 15 percent for onshore wind.

Sep. 27

No gold medal for Europe in renewables without more ambitious policies

Europe number 1 in renewables? Successful energy transition? Not without more ambitious policies, innovation and electrification, according to a new WindEurope report.

‘Making Transition Work’ outlines a number of specific policy recommendations for Europe’s decision makers to ensure the EU meets its energy and climate goals over the next two decades.

First, the EU should raise its ambition to at least 30% of renewables in final energy consumption by 2030. Second we need continued innovation to reduce costs and support the integration of renewables in the energy system. Third, electricity markets need further reform: to make them fit for more renewables and provide the necessary conditions for investment. And we need to push the electrification of heating, cooling and transport with power playing an important role in reaching the European climate and energy targets.

Juni 15

Wind Industry Celebrates One Million Jobs

Global wind employment grew 5% last year to reach 1.1M

Worldwide, 15 June. Record wind industry growth was reflected in a 5% increase in employment in the sector, which now employs 1.1 million1 people. Today, on Global Wind Day, GWEC highlights the socio-economic benefits generated by the global wind industry, in addition to supplying clean power. Global Wind Day is a worldwide event that occurs annually on 15 June: a day for discovering wind energy, its power and the possibilities it holds to reshape our energy systems, decarbonise our economies, build new industries and create new jobs.

The increase in employment figures is mainly due to strong installation rates in China, the US and Germany. New job creation is being driven by declining renewable energy technology costs and enabling policy frameworks. As governments continue to struggle with high unemployment rates in many parts of the world, both the current reality and future potential for employment in the wind industry has become increasingly significant.

Mai 20

Energiewende travel guide published in English

Discover and explore the Energiewende – the transformation of the German energy system – in English. The new travel guide “Germany – Experience Renewable Energy“ allows readers to do just that. Edited by the German Renewable Energies Agency (AEE) and funded by the Federal Foreign Office, the travel guide will be published just in time for the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue conference which starts tomorrow. The richly illustrated guide includes some 200 destinations and a large number of maps. The German version was last published in 2014 as an updated edition.

Commenting on the first translation of the Energiewende travel guide into English, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: “Other countries are following the comprehensive transformation of our energy supply very closely. Scarcely anybody deemed it realistic ten years ago, but today we know that the energy transition is technically and financially feasible.” AEE Managing Director Philipp Vohrer added: “In many ways, Germany is a pioneer when it comes to switching to renewables. This is illustrated in our new travel guide.”

Mai 10

Renewables associations call on EC to model higher RES targets

To maintain global leadership in renewables, Europe should now make a firm and resolute commitment to a flourishing and vibrant domestic renewable energy market by 2030. The European renewables industry calls on the European Commission to factor in higher renewable energy ambition in the post-2020 Renewable Energy Directive.

Apr. 07

WindEurope elects new Chairman

EWEA rebranded to „WindEurope“ and has elected Francesco Venturini, Chief Executive Officer of Enel Green Power, as its new chairman. Mr. Venturini was elected for an 18-month term by WindEurope’s Board of Directors, which is comprised of corporate members, national associations and other organisations. He will succeed current WindEurope Chairman Dr. Markus Tacke, CEO of Siemens Wind Power & Renewables, who has served in the post since October 2014.

EWEA Chief Executive Officer Giles Dickson said: “We’re delighted to have Francesco Venturini as our new Chairman. It’s a key moment for our industry. The outlook for wind power in Europe is uncertain, with declining policy ambition and clarity in many countries.”

Feb. 10

Europe risks losing its leadership in wind energy without a clear policy vision for renewables towards 2030.

Europe risks losing its leadership in wind energy without a clear policy vision for renewables towards 2030.

In 2015, China overtook the EU for total installed wind energy capacity, according to statistics released today by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). China installed almost 3 times as much wind than the EU and now has 145GW total capacity to the EU’s 142GW.

Giles Dickson, Chief Executive Officer of the European Wind Energy Association, said: “China overtaking the EU in wind energy is watershed moment. It sends a powerful message to policymakers: if Europe really wants to be number one in renewables it needs to get its act together. We need a clear EU vision for renewables beyond 2020. And great ambition and clarity from individual Member States.