Energy prices have only minimal impact on Europe’s economic competitiveness, new research reveals.

While some commentators have used the need to stay competitive as an argument against a strong 2030 climate and energy framework, this research shows that Europe’s competitiveness depends more on innovation than on low energy costs.

The study was conducted by Grantham Research Institute, DIW Berlin and IDDRI.

“For the vast majority of companies, energy prices have little impact on their choice of location or on their competitiveness,” says an Ends Europe article. A Reuters article also supported this revelation.

In addition, European Commission research[1] has proven that the historically higher energy prices in Europe have led to European companies becoming far more energy efficient than their foreign competitors.

– Renewable energy CEOs discuss with journalists
– Wednesday 12 February 2014, 10:30-12:00 plus lunch, Brussels
– Press member? Register now by contacting Sarah Azau: [email protected]

Two weeks after the Commission disappointed the renewable energy industry and environmentalists with its weak proposal on a 2030 climate and energy framework, the European Parliament reinforced its commitment to Europe’s energy future. A majority 341 MEPs voted in favour of three binding 2030 targets for renewables (30%), greenhouse gas emission reductions (40%) and energy efficiency (40%).

The pivotal plenary vote was likely fueled by the projected benefits of strong binding 2030 targets: 570,000 new jobs, €500 billion that can be saved from fossil fuel imports and lower energy costs for energy intensive industries.

Still, many people fear the targets will cause Europe’s electricity prices to continue rising and put European businesses at a disadvantage compared to businesses in other countries.

Are they right? Should Europeans continue to support renewable energy? Is there a trade-off between clean energy and competitiveness, or is this a false debate? Who benefits from weaker climate and energy goals – and will they bring down our energy bills?

These concerns will be examined in a 12 February press conference in Brussels, at which CEOs from leading European companies will explain the importance of a strong 2030 climate and energy framework.

The press conference, titled EuropeBusiness Day, will be held from 10:30 to 12:00 in the Hotel Silken Berlaymont in Brussels.

More details can be found here: http://europebusinessday.eu/

Last week, the European Commission released its communication on a 2030 climate and energy framework including targets, initiating a dramatic spike in both positive and negative media coverage of the question. The Commission’s proposed targets have created some controversy because, while they would require the EU to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent from the 1990 levels by 2030, the suggested 27% renewable energy target is considered unambitious by the renewable energy industry and green campaigners.

In the ensuing media reaction, numerous articles referred to EWEA, some even specifically quoting CEO Thomas Becker. In a Financial Times article, Becker was quoted: “The previously far-sighted and ambitious European Commission is a shadow of its former self, hiding behind the UK and other backward-looking member states and lobbies.” Becker’s quote was used to support the overall message of the article, which you can grasp through the article’s lead, “Brussels has taken a step back from the ambitious environmental agenda that made the EU a global green leader…”

The Guardian also published an article that referenced EWEA among other renewable energy associations and companies that were disappointed with the targets. An International New York Times article shared the EWEA opinion that policy makers are “easing up in their drive for more aggressive climate regulation.”

French newspaper Le Monde published an article that expressed satisfaction with the targets but also recognized that they could have been stronger, as environmental organizations and the European Greens would have preferred. It pointed out the belief that a truly ambitious goal for 2030 would have been a 55 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Germany’s commitment to renewable energy was on display in a Deutsche Presse-Agentur article, in which German Chancellor Andrea Merkel identified “transforming the energy sector by dismantling nuclear power and boosting alternative energy sources” as a primary objective for her government coalition.

EWEA expects thousands of people from all across the wind energy industry to attend its upcoming Annual Event, which it will be hosting at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via from 10-13 March. The EWEA 2014 Annual Event consists of three main components: a conference, an exhibition and networking. Between updating participants on the latest innovations during the 30 sessions of the conference, providing a setting for conducting global business at the exhibition and offering an environment for networking throughout the four days, the event is intended to encourage widespread growth.

“This is about raising the visibility of wind energy and strengthening the industry,” EWEA Marketing Manager Deborah Yates said.

The exhibition, which functions like a trade show, enables companies from all levels of the wind energy industry supply chain to promote their innovations and conduct sales. Companies view the exhibition as an opportunity to establish new business connections and maintain mutually-beneficial relationships with clients and partners.

“A lot of companies see this as an annual meeting of the industry,” Yates said.

In addition to companies, many wind energy associations will be in attendance.

“There will be a good international representation of the industry with exhibiting companies coming from across Europe and as far as the USA and China, including five national pavilions and many national associations from across the globe,” Yates said.

Recently-appointed Conference Chair, ENERCON Managing Director Hans-Dieter Kettwig is delivering the conference opening speech, followed by keynote speeches led by Maria van der Hoeven, International Energy Agency Executive Director and EWEA President Andrew Garrad. This will be followed by a panel debate on the 2030 policy framework and its direct impact on companies doing business in the wind energy sector today.

Delegates will hear how leading wind energy companies are getting back to business in the CEO panel debate, with the confirmed participation of Anne McEntree (GE Power & Water), Alfonso Faubel (Alstom Wind), Ignacio Martín (Gamesa) and Rafael Mateo (ACCIONA Energy). The conference sessions that follow will cover latest developments in hardware technology, resource assessment, science & research, business and policy. The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) is hosting a session focussing on the international context of climate negotiations in the build up to the climate summit in Paris in 2015. GWEC is also organising a session with practical information and advice for doing business in Brazil, South Africa and Mexico.

Hans-Dieter Kettwig highlights the positive effects of the growth of the wind energy industry and envisions continued progress.

“An ambitious target for the expansion of renewable energies by the year 2030 is of key importance to our industry,” he says. “EWEA 2014 in Barcelona provides us with a forum to jointly discuss these pressing political and technological challenges and to present innovative solutions. Let’s make a joint effort to send a positive signal from Spain – where things have been difficult in recent years – to the renewable energies sector in Europe and the rest of the world!”

For more information about EWEA 2014: www.ewea.org/annual2014

Another annual United Nations conference on climate change has ended and international negotiators once again failed to agree to a new treaty on reducing global greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels.

Countries gathering the past two weeks in Warsaw made earnest speeches, said they understood the challenge that humans face from increasing levels of carbon in our warming atmosphere and then, as at past conferences, they did very little to address the increasingly complex problem.

The end result — a weak agreement to continue working towards a pathway for a new global legally-binding climate change treaty by 2015 — was more than frustrating since there are already proven alternatives to using coal, oil and gas to power our world.

Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, said some progress had been made at the conference, which ended Saturday. continue reading »