WINDEUROPE: EUROPE'S ENERGY FUTURE - COPENHAGEN CALL TO ACTION
At the opening session of WindEurope’s annual event – one of the largest gatherings of its kind, with over 15,000 attendees, the wind industry unveiled the ‘Copenhagen Call to Action’, a bold roadmap to boost Europe’s energy independence, industrial competitiveness and climate resilience.
The launch comes amid economic uncertainty and global tensions, highlighting the urgent need for the EU’s ‘Clean Industrial Deal’, which puts electrification and faster growth of renewables, especially wind—at the heart of Europe’s industrial strategy.
Three Steps to Transform Europe’s Energy Landscape
The Copenhagen Call to Action lays out three strategic steps for governments to act on immediately:
Apply the New EU Permitting Rules
Current permitting delays are holding back any project progress. The first step urges governments to implement the updated EU permitting regulations, enabling more wind projects to move forward quickly and efficiently.
Remove Barriers to Electrification
Electrification is critical to decarbonising industry and transport. The second step calls for state aid mechanisms to support renewable power purchase agreements (PPAs), encouraging companies to switch to clean electricity.
De-risk Wind Investments with Two-Sided CfDs
The final pillar involves stabilising the investment environment through a consistent pipeline of two-sided Contracts for Difference (CfDs). These contracts not only reduce capital costs and improve revenue visibility for developers but also offer governments better value and cost control.
The Bigger Picture: Energy Security and Industrial Growth
Wind energy currently accounts for 20% of Europe’s electricity consumption. The EU aims to raise this to 35% by 2030 and over 50% by 2050. But despite its critical role, Europe isn’t building wind farms fast enough to meet these goals.
According to WindEurope, the main hurdles include:
• Inefficient permitting processes
• Slow grid development
• Flawed auction designs
• Insufficient electrification incentives
Nonetheless, the industry remains proactive. Over €11 billion is already being invested in new wind energy manufacturing facilities across Europe to support the Clean Industrial Deal's ambitions.
WindEurope Chairman, Henrik Andersen said: “Europe is in a moment of transition. To secure European influence in the global economy, we need more secure, affordable and sustainable energy.
Wind energy is already driving industrial growth and energy independence across Europe, we just need to scale up.
This calls for increasing viable demand for wind energy and strengthening wind’s market environment.
WindEurope Copenhagen will be a critical opportunity for European governments and industry to agree on how we can achieve this, together.”
Looking Ahead
The Copenhagen Call to Action represents more than just policy recommendations - it’s a rallying cry for united, accelerated action. With the right political will and industry alignment, it has the potential to make Europe a global leader in renewable energy, while safeguarding economic and climate resilience for generations to come.
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