Vestas joins RE100, calls for policy changes in EU

Danish wind turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems A/S (CPH:VWS) has joined the Climate Group’s RE100 initiative, reiterating its commitment to stay an all-renewables company and proposing further steps for promoting renewables in Europe.

The RE100 programme unites companies from various sectors that aim to power 100% of their operations from renewable sources. In July, the initiative passed the 100-member threshold, three years ahead of schedule.

According to the Climate Group, Vestas has been generating 100% of its power demand from renewable energy sources in 2013. The wind turbine manufacturer, which earlier this month launched in China a new turbine for low and ultra-low wind areas, will collaborate with RE100 to “help influence more ambitious renewable energy targets” and a policy framework for power purchase agreements (PPAs) that will facilitate the further deployment of renewables.

“RE100 underlines our joint efforts to make renewable energy an easy choice for companies, because it’s the right thing to do for the planet, and because it makes economic sense,” said Morten Dyrholm, Vestas’ senior vice president of Marketing, communications & public affairs.

Among the policy changes that Vestas suggests are accelerated closure of coal-fired power facilities, power markets revamp, long-term regulatory frameworks that include renewable energy targets as well as greater certainty within the European Union’s (EU) energy sector. For the EU market in particular, the Danish firm calls for a binding renewables goal of at least 35% by 2030 with national benchmarks and further opening of Europe’s energy markets so as to encourage companies to buy renewable power for their operations.

Vestas has an installed turbine capacity of 85 GW across 75 companies. The company meets its own power needs through PPAs or Vestas-owned renewable energy facilities.

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