Euroopa tuuleenergia tegevuskava
Opinion factsheet
Sellel lehel
- kliimamuutuste ja energeetika
- Energiasüsteemi ümberkujundamine
- ELi energiapoliitika
- Euroopa roheline kokkulepe
Opinion number:
CDR-0710-2024
Status:
Vastu võetud
Objective
To boost the effective integration of offshore technologies in the energy system
To provide solutions and proposals to unllock the potential of a wind power sector that is in the midst of a severe crisis
To contribute to better assess and improve the environmental and social performance of wind energy
To scale up the use of wind energy to become a key pillar of Europe's energy system in 2050
To set up a long term strategy and targets
To provide solutions and proposals to unllock the potential of a wind power sector that is in the midst of a severe crisis
To contribute to better assess and improve the environmental and social performance of wind energy
To scale up the use of wind energy to become a key pillar of Europe's energy system in 2050
To set up a long term strategy and targets
Impact
The opinion has provided valuable guidance on reinforcing Europe’s wind energy ecosystem. The Committee’s emphasis on aligning the clean energy transition with industrial competitiveness has directly supported the objectives of the European Wind Power Action Plan, aimed at ensuring a robust, innovative, and competitive European wind sector capable of sustaining high-quality jobs and investment across regions.
The Committee’s call for a stronger focus on transmission, distribution, and cross-border energy infrastructure has reinforced the Commission’s approach within the revised TEN-E framework and the EU Action Plan for Grids. The Committee’s insights have underscored the territorial dimension of grid modernisation, contributing to the prioritisation of offshore grids, regional cooperation mechanisms as well as stakeholder engagement across local and regional authorities.
Reflecting the Committee’s recommendations, the Commission recognises that simplified and accelerated permitting procedures are essential for the timely deployment of renewables, including wind energy. The Committee’s position has strengthened the focus on strategic spatial planning, transparent consultation processes, and the designation of ‘renewables acceleration areas’ under the revised Renewable Energy Directive, balancing energy expansion with environmental protection and public acceptance.
The Committee’s opinion has reinforced the importance of a level playing field for European manufacturers in the face of global competition. In response, the Commission has taken forward measures under the Action Plan and the Net-Zero Industry Act to monitor potential market distortions, address foreign subsidies, and define resilience-based criteria in renewable energy auctions, thus safeguarding Europe’s technological sovereignty and manufacturing capacity in the wind sector.
The Committee’s advocacy for the role of local and regional authorities in renewable and citizen energy communities has informed the Commission’s actions to deepen citizen participation and local ownership in energy projects. Through the Citizens Energy Package and the implementation of the Renewable Energy and Electricity Market Design Directives, the Commission is furthering the decentralisation and territorial cohesion of the energy transition, in line with the Committee’s vision for a more democratic and inclusive clean energy system.
The Committee’s call for a stronger focus on transmission, distribution, and cross-border energy infrastructure has reinforced the Commission’s approach within the revised TEN-E framework and the EU Action Plan for Grids. The Committee’s insights have underscored the territorial dimension of grid modernisation, contributing to the prioritisation of offshore grids, regional cooperation mechanisms as well as stakeholder engagement across local and regional authorities.
Reflecting the Committee’s recommendations, the Commission recognises that simplified and accelerated permitting procedures are essential for the timely deployment of renewables, including wind energy. The Committee’s position has strengthened the focus on strategic spatial planning, transparent consultation processes, and the designation of ‘renewables acceleration areas’ under the revised Renewable Energy Directive, balancing energy expansion with environmental protection and public acceptance.
The Committee’s opinion has reinforced the importance of a level playing field for European manufacturers in the face of global competition. In response, the Commission has taken forward measures under the Action Plan and the Net-Zero Industry Act to monitor potential market distortions, address foreign subsidies, and define resilience-based criteria in renewable energy auctions, thus safeguarding Europe’s technological sovereignty and manufacturing capacity in the wind sector.
The Committee’s advocacy for the role of local and regional authorities in renewable and citizen energy communities has informed the Commission’s actions to deepen citizen participation and local ownership in energy projects. Through the Citizens Energy Package and the implementation of the Renewable Energy and Electricity Market Design Directives, the Commission is furthering the decentralisation and territorial cohesion of the energy transition, in line with the Committee’s vision for a more democratic and inclusive clean energy system.
Essential points
THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
supports the Commission’s efforts to strengthen the EU wind industry and promote wind power development across the EU since it has significant potential in terms of providing energy security, increasing the share of renewable energy and securing affordable energy prices, thereby resulting in greater energy independence for local and regional authorities (LRAs);
notes that an adequate energy storage, transportation and distribution system, including cross-border interconnections, is essential for the realisation of the development of both onshore and offshore projects as well as for the stability of the electricity grid;
acknowledges the severe delay wind developers face when requesting permits and the risks associated with this long waiting period and agrees that there is a need for a fast, transparent permitting procedure, where possible involving digital acceleration;
recognises the challenges that local and regional authorities face with permitting procedures, which often conflict with European directives and regulations such as the Bird Directive and Habitats Directive and calls for exploring ways to enhance the efficiency and approval rate of permitting processes taking into account environmental standards;
highlights that at the environmental permitting stage, every effort needs to be made to try to achieve maximum acceptance by developing a Stakeholder Engagement Plan, which should in all cases be addressed to the local community and local authorities;
points out that the role of local and regional authorities in strategic local and regional energy planning should be consolidated in order to ensure efficient, coordinated development of energy infrastructure. Local governments and authorities can make sure the process goes more smoothly by setting up and running local energy forums;
acknowledges that an unlevel playing field could negatively affect EU wind equipment manufacturers and could even reduce their competitiveness on the EU market and proposes the creation of a ‘made in and by Europe’ label that would establish the obligation of a minimum of local content in wind turbine components;
highlights the fact that at local and regional level, energy communities represent a chance to establish a sustainable, decentralised and democratic energy transition with the active participation of local and regional authorities.
Rapporteur:
Andries GRYFFROY (BE/EA), Member of the Flemish Parliament
Reference document:
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions European Wind Power Action Plan
COM/2023/669 final