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EU’s Wind Capacity Growth Falls Short Of Climate Goals

Despite wind power providing 20% of Europe’s electricity in 2024, the European Union is lagging behind in building the wind energy infrastructure needed to meet its ambitious 2030 climate and energy targets, according to industry group WindEurope.

Key Insights

  • Insufficient Capacity Growth: Europe added 15 gigawatts (GW) of new wind energy capacity in 2024, comprising 13 GW of offshore and 2 GW of onshore wind.
  • Shortfall Against Targets: The EU contributed 13 GW of this total but needs to build at least 30 GW annually to meet its 2030 goal of wind power accounting for 34% of electricity consumption. The target rises to over 50% by 2050.

Challenges Hindering Progress

  1. Permitting Issues: Many EU governments are failing to implement streamlined permitting processes, delaying project approvals.
  2. Grid Connection Bottlenecks: Infrastructure and logistics challenges have slowed the connection of new wind farms to the grid.
  3. Economic Electrification Lag: Europe’s transition to an electrified economy is not progressing quickly enough to integrate the growing wind power capacity.

Industry Context

The offshore wind sector has faced significant hurdles, including higher component costs, logistical complexities, and permitting delays. Investments in offshore wind projects have slowed, and final investment decisions remain challenging for many companies.

“Europe is not building enough new wind farms. For 3 main reasons: a) most governments are not applying the good EU permitting rules; b) new grid connections are delayed; c) Europe is not electrifying its economy quickly enough,” said Giles Dickson, WindEurope’s CEO.

To achieve its targets, the EU must address permitting inefficiencies, accelerate grid upgrades, and drive electrification across its member states. Without immediate action, Europe risks missing its climate goals and falling behind in the global energy transition.

Kuwaiti Ambassador Advocates For Strengthened Ties Between Cyprus And GCC Nations

The Kuwaiti Ambassador to Cyprus, Abdullah Musaed Al-Khorafi, has underscored the vital need to deepen dialogue between Kuwait, Cyprus, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, as well as the broader Arab world. He made these remarks during a luncheon held at his Nicosia residence on February 4, which brought together key diplomatic figures.

The event was hosted in honor of Annita Demetriou, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, and was part of a series of high-level diplomatic gatherings organized by the Kuwaiti Embassy in Cyprus. Among the attendees were the ambassadors and heads of Arab diplomatic missions in Cyprus, as well as representatives from the U.S. and Swiss embassies.

Ambassador Al-Khorafi took the opportunity to lead an expanded discussion on pressing regional and international developments, focusing particularly on the Middle East. Topics included the ongoing crises in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine, with a strong emphasis on how these events affect regional stability.

The luncheon also served as a platform for talks on enhancing cooperation between Cyprus and GCC countries, as well as broader Arab nations. The discussions highlighted opportunities to strengthen ties in key sectors such as education, culture, trade, investment, and tourism. The aim is to build closer connections between people and foster mutual benefits.

In his opening speech, Ambassador Al-Khorafi stressed the importance of promoting dialogue at both governmental and societal levels, not only between Kuwait and Cyprus, but across the entire GCC and Arab world. He expressed his gratitude for the presence of President Demetriou, noting that her participation symbolized Cyprus’ commitment to advancing relations with Kuwait and its regional partners.

President Demetriou, in turn, thanked the ambassador for his hospitality, reflecting on the fruitful discussions and shared goals for enhancing Cyprus’ relations with Kuwait and the wider Arab world. She reaffirmed the importance of cooperation and strategic partnerships between Cyprus and the GCC countries, especially in areas of mutual interest and concern.

This meeting, according to Demetriou, was a testament to the strong diplomatic relations between Cyprus and Kuwait, as well as the ongoing efforts to broaden and deepen ties with the Arab world.

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