European Wind Energy Technology Platform (TPWind)
A dedicated voice for Technology and Policy R&D, speaking for the wind energy sector and its stakeholders.
Why a European Wind Energy Technology Platform?
Context
The Wind Energy market outperforms its own record every year. Market growth rates are in the same range as those of high-tech technologies (internet, cell phones ...). Europe is world leader in terms of installations and manufacturing. Most top-ten manufacturers are European. These figures are successful, but the industry has now to ensure a sustainable long-term development.
Indeed, symptoms of market overheating are visible:
- delays for wind turbines delivery are increasing,
- competition for projects is increasing, together with the price of the terrains,
- international competition is growing, and non-EU competitors have significant market shares,
- as a consequence, prices of wind turbines are increasing.
These overheating symptoms are related to the fact that the Wind Energy Industry is not in a virtuous development scheme.
A virtuous scheme for wind energy development
A virtuous scheme for wind energy would be a configuration where development is based on four pillars: Science / Technology / Local Market and International Market.
Research / Research and Development / Market
In such a scheme, long-term research objectives are prospected by the academic bodies. These bodies progressively transfer the research results to industry. These Technological advantages are key issues for decreasing the costs.
Jointly with technological cost benefits, removal of administrative barriers, optimisation of Environmental regulations, and implementation of efficient Market regulations and instruments enable to establish a sustainable internal market. This enables costs reductions through large-scale deployment of the Technology, and galvanizes long-term private investment.
EU Market / International
To enable this Technological deployment, massive investments are needed in the supply (turbine, gearboxes, blades...) and installation chain (trucks, boats, roads, harbours...). Also, the corresponding jobs (installation, O&M...) and training institutes must be created. These long-term investments shall be performed with a view of a progressive saturation of the internal market, which will progressively move to re-powering. At this point, major market shares will be outside Europe. To prepare this phase, International agreements and Intellectual Property Rights have to be implemented. The supply chain shall be structured and already optimised to face direct competition on low-labour costs markets.