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EWEA REBRANDS TO RECOGNISE WIND INDUSTRY IMPORTANCE

The new name recognises the industry’s transformation over the 34 years of the association’s history. “What was a niche energy sector is now a "large mainstream industry", employing a quarter of a million people in Europe, and with a turnover of €67 billion. Europe has been at the forefront of wind power technology and development, which now provides 11% of the continent’s electricity. The challenges for an established market are different from an emerging one”, said WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson

The new chairman, Francesco Venturini, CEO of Enel Green Power, will hold the post for 18 months, and is the first to come from the utility sector, another recognition of the changing landscape of wind’s role in the energy mix across Europe. Venturini takesover from Siemens Wind Power CEO Markus Tacke who had been in the role since 2014. 

The objectives for WindEurope will include: 

• full and efficient integration of wind energy on to the energy markets through an effective design framework at EU and national levels; 
• streamlining the extension of licences and connection rights to encourage revamping or repowering of ageing wind assets; 
• increasing the EU target from 27% to at least 30% renewables by 2030; 
• strengthening the EU emissions trading scheme; 
• and boosting finance and schemes to promote research.