The European Commission presented an action plan on Tuesday to strengthen the wind energy sector. The aim is to defend the interests of EU states against the push from Asia-Pacific countries.
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Europe had managed to establish itself on the international scene in the wind industry, but Chinese competition has been tough and Beijing has regained control at the global level over the last two years. There is no question of letting the situation deteriorate, according to Brussels, which, for once, has decided not to place itself on the terrain of legislation but on the concrete level of industrialization.
The objective of the action plan presented on Tuesday October 24 by the European Commission is to improve the competitiveness of our wind industry. Faced with low-cost Asian competition, our European companies have gradually lost market share. We went from almost 60% market share in 2017 to half (30%) today. As a result, our large manufacturers and installers are now showing losses.
Shorten deadlines for implementations
The European Commission is focusing on three axes: Granting more authorizations for establishments, improving access to European financing by companies in the sector via a dedicated investment fund, revising the auction processes by Member States.
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More authorizations granted will give a boost to renewable energies in the regions. Shortening deadlines means ensuring that our manufacturers are not penalized by legislation that is too slow. Today, it takes seven years to see the birth of a project on land… up to ten years for marine wind power. An eternity.
Legislation has slowed down our businesses and today we are suffering. Not to mention local opposition from certain elected officials and residents, but this is not the responsibility of the European Commission. Brussels estimates the investment needs for wind power in Europe at six billion euros. But according to some observers, this is hardly enough to regain momentum in the face of the American recovery plan. Joe Biden’s IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) plan to defend American industrial interests prohibits China from exporting its products to the United States, which pushes Beijing to flood a Europe which once again took too long to decide and to act.