The growth of the wind energy industry in Europe is expected to continue over the next five years, increasing by around 17 gigawatts (GW) per year through to 2022, but WindEurope believes “policy uncertainty and a lack of ambition” may halt this impressive growth in the long term.
The integration of increasing shares of renewable energy into electricity grids is getting easier and cheaper. Smart grids, demand response, flexible wind turbines and storage are helping to do this. But we need to upgrade and expand the grid to secure the significant cost savings that an interconnected power market could offer. If renewables are to meet 35% of Europe’s energy needs by 2030, then investments in electricity grids need to be more strategic.
Europe added a total of 4.5 gigawatts (GW) of new wind energy throughout the first half of 2018, according to new data from WindEurope, down by 26% on the same period a year earlier, heralding what some believe are “worrying trends” for the market.
The bid prices in Germany’s second onshore wind round in 2018 rose to an average of €57 per megawatt-hour (MWh), slightly up on the €47.3/MWh which was recorded only a few months ago in February, in a surprisingly undersubscribed tender process.
The European wind energy industry invested a total of €51.2 billion ($63.22 billion) in 2017, with €22.3 billion ($27.54) of this going towards new wind farms, a figure down on the €28 billion invested during 2016, but allowing for more capacity.
Giles Dickson, the CEO of the European wind energy trade body, WindEurope, told representatives from the European Commission this week that continued research into developing ever-larger wind turbines is vital to future cost reductions which can lead to meeting European Climate and Energy objectives.
Integrating renewable energy sources into the electricity grid is becoming easier and cheaper, according to the Renewables Grid Initiative and WindEurope, but more needs to be done for European electricity grids if the region is to achieve increased levels of renewable energy in its electricity mix.
The European wind energy industry installed a record 15.7 gigawatts of new wind energy capacity in 2017, bringing its cumulative total up to an impressive 169 gigawatts (GW), but the future for the industry is uncertain after a messy transition to an auction system and continued lack of clarity for post-2020 Government renewable ambitions.
The European offshore wind industry had an impressive year in 2017, increasing capacity by 25% with 3.1 gigawatts of new capacity installed, bringing the region’s total offshore wind capacity up to 15.8 gigawatts.
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy last month unveiled two new wind turbines for onshore and offshore wind sites, both of which are intended to pave the way for the company’s new “One Segment/One Technology” philosophy announced early November.
