Vestas and Ørsted CEOs elected as chair and vice-chair of WindEurope

The Board of WindEurope has elected Henrik Andersen, CEO of Vestas, to be the new Chair of WindEurope, and Rasmus Errboe, the CEO of Ørsted, as Vice-Chair.

On behalf of Europe's wind industry, Andersen and Errboe will engage with governments, other stakeholders and wider society in Europe for the next 18 months.

According to WindEurope, it's a critical moment for the energy transition in Europe and for Europe’s wider economic security.

The European Union is looking to boost the electrification of industry and the rest of the energy system, as well as ensure energy security.

Wind is viewed as a key driver for affordable electricity and industrial competitiveness and therefore the EU is aiming for 35% wind power in the energy mix by 2030.

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In a statement to WindEurope, Henrik Andersen suggests that Europe is in a defining moment for its future and needs an energy source that is home grown, affordable and will ultimately boost competitiveness.

"Wind energy can contribute to all of this, and now is the time for Europe to bolster its wind industry. The European Commission and member states have set high targets, but this momentum must translate ambition into implementation."

"I look forward to working closely with Vice Chair, Rasmus Errboe, and extend my thanks to the Wind Europe members for trusting in me as your Chair for the coming eighteen months.”

Errboe echoed the need for an energy source that will provide energy security for the region and also emphasised the risks facing the wind sector and the need to address them. "The industry is challenged by rising costs, risks and a lack of long-term visibility needed for investment in the supply chain and large infrastructure projects. I will make it top of my agenda to work closely with industry and policy-makers across Europe to address these challenges and ensure that wind energy delivers on Europe’s critical needs.”

According to WindEurope, the European wind industry has invested €11 billion ($12 billion) in the last two years in its supply chain to meet the demand for more wind energy. However, the EU is building only half the new wind energy capacity it needs to deliver on its 2030 energy security and climate targets.

This is due to cumbersome permitting, slow grid build-out and insufficient electrification which undermine investments in new wind farms. Poor auction design also threatens the business case of new projects, challenges which need to be addressed urgently.