On 24 October, the European Commission will present its wind energy action plan, as announced by President Ursula von der Leyen in her State of the Union address (see EUROPE 13249/4).
This document, as seen by EUROPE, is based on six pillars: - faster deployment through greater predictability and faster licensing; - improved auction design; - access to finance; - competitive and fair international environment; - skills, and; - commitment from industry and Member States.
The plan, divided into 16 measures, is designed to tackle the problems facing the European wind energy sector, such as under-utilisation of production capacity due to insufficient and uncertain demand, a slow and complex permitting process and price inflation.
Among other things, the Commission is proposing to extend the emergency regulation on licensing procedures (see EUROPE 13088/5). In November, it will present a report on this regulation and propose that it be extended beyond its expiry date of the end of June 2024. It is a way of anticipating the full implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive (see EUROPE 13267/30).
By the end of the year, the Commission will also be launching an online tool to help Member States with the licensing process.
Secondly, it will encourage Member States to increase the visibility of the wind energy project pipeline through the pledges of wind energy projects, the publication of mid-term auction schedules and long-term plans for the deployment of renewable energies. In particular, this should be done via the National Energy-Climate Plans (NECP).
In November, the Commission will also adopt an action plan for the grids to encourage their expansion and unblock more ‘onshore’ and ‘offshore’ wind projects.
Among other things, the Commission will be working to reduce the risks associated with cyber security and data protection. It also plans to improve access to finance via the Innovation Fund, the revised Strategic Energy Technology Plan and the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) (see EUROPE 13205/3). Dialogue with investors will be stepped up to attract more investment to the European wind energy sector.
The Commission also recommends using trade defence instruments and facilitating access to foreign markets for EU producers by negotiating trade agreements.
It is also committed to promoting the adoption of European and international standards for the wind energy sector, and encourages large-scale skills partnerships.
Finally, the EU institution is calling on the Member States and representatives of the wind energy industry to sign the ‘EU Wind Charter’ and approve the action plan as presented in the document, to enable the industry “to step up investment and ensure the expansion of its production capacity in order to meet the growing demand for wind energy projects in the coming years”. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)