Energy-intensive companies need more support from the European Union, a group of large European industrial associations said in a statement released in Brussels on Tuesday.
Wind was already providing 20% of electricity in Europe and was a strategic resource for Europe's industry," the group said, noting that energy-intensive industries in chemicals, steel, aluminium, copper and cement were all a vital part of the European wind supply chain.
"We must aim for materials and equipment for energy and other infrastructure to be made in Europe. That requires globally competitive clean energy and access to raw materials," it said.
But the group added that current policies were not yet offering enabling frameworks. "Energy-intensive industries have experienced unprecedented curtailment of production in recent years due to the impact of the energy crisis," it said.
The group, comprising associations for the chemicals sector (Cefic), cement (Cembureau), steel (Eurofer), wind power (WindEurope) and non-ferrous metals (Eurometaux), called for this challenge to be at the core of a new Industrial Deal for Europe.
"In particular, wind and steel represent one of the most tangible examples of circularity in decarbonization: the steel industry needs large amounts of carbon-free electricity generated from renewables to produce green steel," Eurofer head Axel Eggert said.
According to the European Commission, wind power has to be expanded considerably, with capacity doubled. More than 500 gigawatts are needed by 2030, up from 221 gigawatts installed at the end of 2023, according to WindEurope.
The commission has called for permitting procedures in the member states to be digitalized to accelerate this expansion, along with financial assistance for training officials.
