WindEurope estimates that up to 76GW of the EU’s onshore and offshore wind energy capacity will come
to the end of their operational life between 2020 and 2030 (today’s installed capacity is 142GW). Public
authorities at EU and national level should therefore plan for the decommissioning of wind assets at the
end of their operational lifetime in a timely manner if the EU and Member States are to meet, and exceed,
the 2030 renewable energy target.
A pro-active approach to repowering - alongside new projects - will be critical to delivering the EU’s
objective to meet a share of 50% of electricity generated by renewables by 2030. Ultimately, this will help
make the EU an example for successful management of the energy transition and secure its position as
world number one in renewables. An enabling framework for repowering should remove unnecessary
administrative barriers and give asset owners sufficient flexibility to make repowering decisions based on
the site- and project-specific economic case.
The post-2020 Renewable Energy Directive should require Member States to provide in their 2030
national plans an indication of wind energy capacity that will come to the end of its operational
lifetime and outline policy measures, including regulation where appropriate, to unlock repowering
potential.
Member States’ 2030 national contributions to the EU-wide renewables target should factor in
repowering capacity alongside the development of new projects.
Member States should ensure that repowering projects are provided with a clear path-to-market
and a regulatory framework that puts them on a par with new projects.
1) Driving further cost reductions in wind energy
Repowering of wind assets in the post-2020 period presents a clear opportunity for modernising the
European wind fleet with the newest technology available. The provision of appropriate market
arrangements and stable regulatory frameworks for repowering will unlock further cost reductions in
wind generation by 2030 and will deliver the EU decarbonisation objectives at the least cost for society.
2) Ensuring better integration of the wind resource in electricity grids
Replacing old turbines with state-of-the-art units, able to provide grid support services, will ensure the
better integration of the variable wind resource into electricity grids compared to first or second
generation machines. Repowered projects contribute to system stability and flexibility in line with the
ongoing EU power market design reform.
3) Improving social acceptance and providing benefits to local communities
Replacing aging assets with fewer modern ones is likely to harness higher amount of power with
comparatively less land use. Local communities are already used to the presence of wind farms which
means that sometimes repowered projects can be more easily accepted by local communities. In contrast
to the full decommissioning of wind farms, repowering preserves local job creation and provides
municipalities with continuous revenues in the form of local taxes from operating wind farms.
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LEGEND:
NEW
new Article proposed by WindEurope
Blue text
new legal text proposed by WindEurope
Black text
existing legal text under Directive 2009/28/EC
[…]
comments by WindEurope
NEW
Article (...): Repowering
1. Member States shall include in their 2030 integrated national energy and climate plans an indication
of the wind power capacity potentially reaching the end of its operation lifetime.
Member States shall inform the Commission of the expected impact of decommissioning wind power
capacity reaching the end of its operation lifetime on the progress towards the national contribution to
the EU-level binding renewable energy target of at least [30] % for 2030.
2. Member States may, in view of achieving or exceeding their national contributions to the EU-level
binding target of at least [30] % share of renewable energy in final energy consumption in 2030, recur
to repowering of wind farms that are reaching the end of their operational lifetime.
For the purposes of this paragraph, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) Member States shall, where applicable, factor in repowering potential when setting up the
national contribution to the EU-level binding renewable energy target of at least [30] % for 2030;
and
(b) Member States shall, where applicable, inform the Commission of the planned policy measures
to implement repowering of wind power capacity reaching the end of its operation lifetime.
Repowering
framing note, June 2016
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