EU’s 2024 new wind capability lower than half quantity wanted for local weather purpose, trade group says

LONDON (Reuters) – Wind energy supplied 20% of the electrical energy consumed in Europe final 12 months, however the capability constructed in the course of the 12 months was lower than half of what’s wanted to fulfill the European Union’s 2030 power and local weather targets, trade group WindEurope stated on Friday.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

Wind has been a rising a part of Europe’s electrical energy manufacturing for greater than 20 years, and the European Union needs it to develop rather more to fulfill targets to fight local weather change and likewise because it reduces reliance on fossil fuels.

BY THE NUMBERS

Europe constructed 15 gigawatts (GW) of recent wind power final 12 months, together with 13 GW of offshore wind and round 2 GW of onshore wind, in keeping with preliminary 2024 knowledge from WindEurope.

European Union international locations accounted for 13 GW of this, however to achieve its 2030 local weather targets the 27-nation bloc needs to be constructing 30 GW a 12 months of recent wind farms.

The EU needs wind energy to account for 34% of electrical energy consumed by 2030 and greater than 50% by 2050.

CONTEXT

The worldwide offshore wind trade specifically has confronted a difficult few years because of infrastructure, grid connection and logistics points, allowing delays and better part prices.

Offshore wind investments in Europe have fallen and it stays difficult for corporations to take ultimate funding choices, WindEurope stated.

KEY QUOTES

“Europe will not be constructing sufficient new wind farms. For 3 foremost causes: a) most governments aren’t making use of the great EU allowing guidelines; b) new grid connections are delayed; c) Europe will not be electrifying its financial system shortly sufficient,” stated WindEurope chief government Giles Dickson.