The 24th Conference of Parties (COP24) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is currently ongoing in Katowice, Poland. This COP is taking place under the Polish Presidency and focusing on three macro areas: technological development, the transition of coal regions, and the objective of climate neutrality. This week, WindEurope spoke … Continue reading Highlights from Katowice: wind energy the dominant power generation technology for net-zero emissions
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French ambitions for onshore wind power toothless without urgent action from Government on permitting
The Environmental Authority which issues permits for onshore wind power plants has been in limbo for 1 year following a technical decision from the top French Administrative Court. As a result no new environmental permits are delivered stalling new wind power projects. The Government is sitting on a decree that would reinstate the Environmental … Continue reading French ambitions for onshore wind power toothless without urgent action from Government on permitting
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Collaboration with the chemicals sector set to improve wind turbines circularity
On 4 December WindEurope and the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) joined forces to host a workshop in Brussels. The workshop aimed to assess how the chemicals industry can support the wind power industry to ensure that the lifecycle of wind turbines is as environmentally sound as possible. In the transition towards an EU carbon-neutral economy, … Continue reading Collaboration with the chemicals sector set to improve wind turbines circularity
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Historic interconnector linking Britain and Belgium: ’a major boost for offshore wind energy in the North Sea’
On 4 December WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson participated in an event celebrating the commissioning of the NEMO interconnection link between Great Britain and Belgium. The event, co-organised by Transmission System Operators Elia (Belgium) and National Grid (UK) marks the inauguration of a project that could revolutionise how Europe sources its energy. The Nemo Link interconnector … Continue reading Historic interconnector linking Britain and Belgium: ’a major boost for offshore wind energy in the North Sea’
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Leading wind energy companies announce new Wind Wildlife Research Fund
Over two dozen companies in the U.S. wind power industry have signed up so far to back a new fund facilitating research that will speed development and deployment of innovative solutions related to wind and wildlife. The news was announced at the Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront Hotel in Saint Paul, Minn., before an audience of … Continue reading Leading wind energy companies announce new Wind Wildlife Research Fund
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Wind energy ready to step up to Europe’s decarbonisation challenge
The European Commission today called for the bloc to aim for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 in its new decarbonisation strategy. The EU’s newly-agreed renewable energy and energy efficiency targets put the bloc on track to cut emissions in 2050 by 60% compared to 1990. But that will still not be enough to meet … Continue reading Wind energy ready to step up to Europe’s decarbonisation challenge
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Wind energy increases its contribution to Spanish GDP with 0.31% in 2017
The total contribution of the wind power to GDP in the 2012-2017 period in Spain was 16,379 million euros. In 2017, the direct contribution to GDP amounted to 2,300.8 million euros, which represents an increase of 57% compared to the results of 2016. In order for wind energy to continue to be a relevant sector … Continue reading Wind energy increases its contribution to Spanish GDP with 0.31% in 2017
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In 2018, Benin, Burundi, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia made significant progress in de-risking renewable energy projects
Since launching a year ago, the Regional Liquidity Support Facility (RLSF) has signed agreements with five countries ensuring that their Independent Power Producers (IPPs) receive protection against payment risks that often contribute to their failure. The Facility supports small and mid-scale renewable energy IPPs (from 50 to 100MW) in sub-Saharan Africa by helping these projects … Continue reading In 2018, Benin, Burundi, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia made significant progress in de-risking renewable energy projects
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Bird deaths from wind turbines are small when compared to other human-caused sources of avian mortality
President Trump recently criticized “windmills” as a source of energy, claiming: “They kill so many birds. You look underneath some of those windmills, it’s like a killing field.” All this while he attempts to prop up a fading coal industry that is responsible for killing twenty-four times as many birds as wind energy. But do … Continue reading Bird deaths from wind turbines are small when compared to other human-caused sources of avian mortality
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Competitive prices in Polish onshore wind energy auction
The results of the first Polish onshore wind power auction were announced today. Prices came it at between €37 and €50/MWh according to Poland’s Energy Regulatory Office. 23 developers entered 31 successful bids for around 1 GW of capacity. WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson said: “These prices are extremely competitive. They’re lower than we’ve seen in … Continue reading Competitive prices in Polish onshore wind energy auction
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Wind energy is more affordable than ever
November is here, and that means peak foliage, turkey stuffing, and the release of Lazard’s Levelized Cost of Energy analysis. For electricity geeks, it’s an early holiday gift. And each year the gift keeps getting better and better for renewable energy. Both the wind and solar industries are relentlessly driving down cost and improving technology … Continue reading Wind energy is more affordable than ever
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Wind energy: Research and innovation needed to provide substitutes for rare materials used in wind turbines
On 14 November WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson spoke at the European Innovation Partnership’s annual conference on “Raw Materials for clean energy-intensive industries of the future.” European energy-intensive industries are important to the European economy, but now face challenges in making the transition to a low-carbon and circular economy by 2050. The wind power industry … Continue reading Wind energy: Research and innovation needed to provide substitutes for rare materials used in wind turbines
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European Parliament gives final green light to new EU 32% renewable energy
The European Parliament today gave its final approval for a binding EU-wide renewable energy target of 32% for 2030. The Parliament cast its final vote of adoption on the Renewable Energy Directive and Governance Regulation, two key parts of Europe’s Clean Energy Package that sets the EU legal framework for renewables up to 2030. Today … Continue reading European Parliament gives final green light to new EU 32% renewable energy
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Wind energy set to become EU’s largest power source well before 2030
Wind power is set overtake coal, nuclear and gas to become the EU’s largest power source well before 2030. This is according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) 2018 World Energy Outlook released today. According to the IEA’s projections, wind energy will become the EU’s largest power source in 2027, overtaking coal, nuclear and then … Continue reading Wind energy set to become EU’s largest power source well before 2030
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Meet the veterans working in wind energy
The U.S. wind industry proudly hires veterans at a rate 72 percent higher than the national average, and the skills, teamwork and dedication they acquire while serving are perfect fits for wind work. Last week, we visited wind projects in Texas and Illinois to meet some of our veterans and thank them for their service. … Continue reading Meet the veterans working in wind energy
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Renewables saved Texans $5.7 billion
Like everything in Texas, wind power is super-sized in the Lone Star State. Texas has more installed wind capacity than the Oklahoma, Iowa and California combined, the states occupying slots two through four on America’s wind leader board. In fact, only four countries in the entire world have built more wind than Texas. Now, a … Continue reading Renewables saved Texans $5.7 billion
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PPAs and National Energy & Climate Plans: high on Italy’s wind energy agenda
On Wednesday 7 November, WindEurope participated in the Key Wind conference in Rimini, Italy, organised by the Italian Wind Energy Association, ANEV. As the only reference wind power show in the Mediterranean basin, the Balkans and the Middle East, the event gathered high-level speakers from the Italian government, associations, businesses, banks and TSOs. The … Continue reading PPAs and National Energy & Climate Plans: high on Italy’s wind energy agenda
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University of Texas study highlights wind energy low cost
Wind power, solar and natural gas have the lowest levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) in the majority of counties across the United States, according to a new report from The University of Texas at Austin’s Energy Institute, part of a series of white papers on the Full Cost of Electricity. The report breaks down the … Continue reading University of Texas study highlights wind energy low cost
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Poland makes wind energy comeback with commitment to develop 8 GW of offshore wind power and ongoing 1 GW onshore wind turbines auction
Poland marked its return to wind energy today with the announcement of ambitious plans to develop 8 GW of offshore wind by 2035. It came as Poland opened a 1 GW onshore wind auction on 5 November. Polish State Secretary for Energy, Grzegorz Tobiszowski, today announced plans to develop 8 GW of offshore wind by … Continue reading Poland makes wind energy comeback with commitment to develop 8 GW of offshore wind power and ongoing 1 GW onshore wind turbines auction
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Getting wind energy in Turkey back on track
The ongoing Turkish financial and economic crisis has negatively impacted Turkey’s previously flourishing domestic wind energy market. The Turkish lira has fallen in value and this has curtailed the growth of Turkish wind energy. Dickson told participants that getting Turkey’s wind energy market back on track will require several steps. It is crucial, as soon as … Continue reading Getting wind energy in Turkey back on track
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