NGO WWF has stressed the role that wind must play in meeting the EU’s 42.5% 2030 renewable energy target in a new report. Last year, 16% of EU electricity demand was provided by wind, with 14% being onshore and 2% offshore. According to the report, the EU has 188 gigawatts (GW) of onshore wind installed and is projected to reach 311GW by 2030. It has also pledged to install 116GW of offshore wind by 2030 but only currently has 16GW installed. The report described the current yearly deployment for offshore wind in the EU as “far too low”, with capacity needing to increase by 625% to meet 2030 pledges and projections. Onshore wind capacity meanwhile needs to increase by 65%. The report noted that Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden’s ambitions for wind energy deployment by 2030 are “roughly in line” with the Paris Agreement Compatible scenario projections. However, other countries – particularly those in Central and Eastern Europe – are “falling far behind” these projections. The report also suggested that due to the “climate emergency” and “dependence on fossil fuels”, the EU should aim to achieve at least 50% in renewable energy by 2030, and 100% by 2040.
How is the 🇪🇺 doing on #WindEnergy?
⚡️How much GW is being produced?
📈Are Member States’ ambitions in line with the new #RenewableEnergyDirective and the #ParisAgreement?🌬️WWF’s ‘Blowing in the Wind’ report looks into it 🧵https://t.co/cfMK22lkxc pic.twitter.com/6SgSpxLzMg
— WWF EU (@WWFEU) October 5, 2023
