Wind industry urges more speed on recovery plan funding

Today, as European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs speaks to the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee on the European Economic Recovery Plan, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) warned that the EU needs to speed up its stimulus package. The €5 billion plan,
approved by the European Parliament last May, includes €565 million for offshore wind projects and additional funds for upgrading and building new electricity grids, but the EU’s slow legislative procedures have prevented a timely release of the funds.

Christian Kjaer, Chief Executive Officer of EWEA, said: “The EU needs to speed up its stimulus package – it’s taking too long. The €565 million allocated to new offshore wind projects would be a welcome boost for growth in the new offshore wind industry, but to be fully effective the funds need to be allocated quickly.” Planned offshore wind construction projects in the North Sea could provide 10% of Europe’s electricity and save 200 million tonnes of CO2 per year. EWEA recently published a blueprint for building a North Sea Grid and it urges the Commission and Transmission System Operators to take its recommendations into account. “EWEA’s new offshore network plan provides for a truly pan-European electricity super highway,” Kjaer said.