EU Member States Sign 'European Wind Charter' Amid Rising Concerns Over China's Wind Power Dominance

In a collective effort to address challenges and bolster the wind energy sector in Europe, 26 European Union countries, excluding Hungary, have recently signed the 'European Wind Charter.' The charter outlines plans to accelerate the deployment of wind power in Europe and aims to shield the European wind energy industry from potential unfair trade practices by manufacturers outside the EU.

Initiated by the European Wind Energy Association, WindEurope, CEO Giles Dickson expressed the significance of this commitment, stating that it marks a crucial day for the European wind energy industry, with 26 nations pledging to implement actions outlined in the European Wind Action Plan.

Currently, European wind turbine manufacturers, including industry giants like Siemens Gamesa, are facing substantial losses. Meanwhile, Chinese wind turbine manufacturers are gaining strength and trending towards global wind power market dominance, prompting protectionist instincts among EU member states.

The joint signing by the 26 EU countries highlights the challenges faced by the wind energy industry in Europe and emphasizes the need for unity to address these challenges collectively. The charter aligns with the European Commission's proposal for the 'EU Wind Charter' in October, aiming to enhance conditions favoring competitiveness in the European wind energy industry.

The signatory countries commit to ensuring a robust and predictable wind energy installation plan, covering at least the period from 2024 to 2026. Additionally, they agree to revise national wind energy project auction rules to promote the production of environmentally friendly, innovative, and high-quality wind turbines with enhanced standards in cybersecurity and labor.

The document emphasizes the necessity for a meticulously designed, objective, transparent, and non-discriminatory prequalification or award standard that does not solely focus on price, favoring European bidding enterprises. The measures consider sustainability, resilience, cybersecurity, business conduct, delivery capabilities, and citizen participation.

The stringent requirements in terms of grid security may pose challenges for Chinese manufacturers to secure EU bids, mirroring the exclusion of Huawei from constructing European telecom networks. This logic reflects Europe's intention to exclude Chinese infrastructure manufacturers in the energy sector.

Furthermore, European wind turbine manufacturers aim to prevent Chinese competitors from becoming members of WindEurope. The organization updated its core values in early 2023, requiring members to have significant wind energy-related business in Europe.

The signatory countries pledge to actively monitor and, if necessary, take measures to address potential unfair trade practices related to wind energy products in international markets. Moreover, they express the intention to strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities, expand the EU's wind energy equipment manufacturing capacity, and enhance existing employment and industrial capabilities when necessary.

Notably, Hungary did not sign the agreement.

The European Commission, in a release titled 'New Wind Energy Charter and National Wind Energy Commitments Highlight Europe's Ambition in Wind Energy,' details the specifics of the signed document. The release notes that the majority of member states and over 300 leading representatives from the wind energy industry have already signed the 'European Wind Charter,' with more countries and companies expected to follow suit.

The latest data indicates that 21 member states have submitted wind energy deployment commitments for the next three years.

As one of the 15 actions outlined in the European Wind Energy Action Plan launched in October, the document aims to coordinate and swiftly implement actions by the European Commission and signatories, showcasing a collective effort to improve favorable conditions for the European wind energy industry. While these commitments remain voluntary and lack legal status, they provide a clear and credible overview for wind energy deployment in the coming years, covering all capacity installations planned by member states from 2024 to 2026, including onshore and offshore wind energy. The ambitious wind energy action plan unveiled in October calls for 500 GW of installed capacity by 2030, with an annual addition of 37 GW.

However, the latest Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) report suggests that achieving this goal is unlikely without the involvement of China's wind energy industry in the global supply chain.

OWELL Industries Paves the Way for Sustainable Energy Solutions in Europe

In the wake of the recently signed 'European Wind Charter' by 26 EU member states, OWELL Industries stands as a beacon of innovation and commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions in Europe. As a sales representative of OWELL Industries, it is my pleasure to introduce our cutting-edge renewable energy business and highlight our unwavering dedication to Europe's sustainable development goals.

OWELL Industries is not just a supplier of renewable energy solutions; we are your partner in building a sustainable, resilient, and green Europe. Let us work together to harness the power of wind and create a brighter, cleaner future for generations to come. For inquiries and further discussions, please contact us. Together, let's shape the future of sustainable energy in Europe!

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