Wind Execs Seek Clear EU Vision

A group of 25 wind industry executives have called for market scale and visibility on renewables deployment volumes in order to sustain the current cost reduction pathway during the first meeting of the European Commissions’ Clean Energy Industrial Forum dedicated to renewables.

During the meeting, the executives also reiterated the industry’s call for a 35% renewable energy target ahead of the European Parliament’s plenary vote next week.

On research and innovation, the wind industry representatives called on the EU to increase funding for onshore and offshore wind, namely in relation to operations and maintenance, digitalisation, system integration and storage. They emphasised that maintaining the wind supply chain in Europe was critical to the EU’s competitiveness and key to maintaining research and innovation centres in Europe.

Members also called on the Commission to promote a dedicated trade agreement for environmental products and to enhance EU financial instruments to de-risk renewable energy projects in non-EU countries.

The recommendations of this Clean Energy Industrial Forum will inform ongoing policy discussions, including the EU Budget for 2021-27, WindEurope said.