Date: June 30
Wind turbine production, a key industry in the transition to renewable energy, is at a tipping point. WindEurope, Europe’s wind business entity, has issued a stark warning: if Europe does not tighten its Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), all turbines could end up being made in China.
Wind power is an ever-growing renewable energy source, with the ability to generate electricity from wind. In Europe, most wind farms have been built using turbines made on the continent. However, there are bottlenecks in the European wind supply chain that could jeopardize this trend.
The EU aims for 43% of electricity consumption to be generated by wind power by 2030. To reach this goal, large investments are needed in factories, ports, ships and skilled workers. However, if Europe gets the NZIA wrong, it could end up building wind farms with turbines made outside of Europe, which would have huge financial and dependency costs.
The European wind power industry contributed €42 billion to EU GDP in 2022. However, if steps are not taken to strengthen the NZIA and support local turbine production, this contribution could decline. The costs of getting the NZIA wrong are enormous: reliance on Chinese manufacturers, job losses, and economic losses.
To avoid this scenario, it is necessary to strengthen the criteria other than price in renewable energy auctions. In addition, the EU must put its own money on the table through the new Sovereignty Fund and the Innovation Fund. It is also crucial to simplify permitting rules and procedures to speed up the construction of wind farms and avoid delays in connecting new wind farms.
In short, the production of wind turbines is a vital industry for the future of renewable energy in Europe. However, if steps are not taken to support local production and strengthen the NZIA, Europe could end up relying on Chinese-made turbines. It is essential that action is taken now to secure the future of wind turbine production in Europe.
Source: Energía Estratégica
