Among the issues facing the US Wind Energy projects is supply chain bottlenecks. I guess the issue is a concern for Europe.
Last paragraph is a good summary –
ENTSO-E estimates that around €400 billion ($435 billion) will need to be invested to meet the 2050 targets. Last year, the EU took steps re-shore 40% of its manufacturing needs for key clean technologies, like wind, as part of its response to the US’ Inflation Reduction Act and massive state subsidies provided to those sectors by China.
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Recent experience shows wind especially sensitive to inflation. Best prospects are when inflation is brought under control. Meanwhile turbine manufacturers report losses due to inadequate cost escalators in old contracts. New contracts have better cost escalators but now becomes blank check. Difficult to find investors when cost is unknown.
If the US or Europe don’t learn from the mistakes of the past, then it becomes a case of bad management. I mentioned the case of a Cape Cod wind project that had successfully set up one wind turbine. Good engineering sometimes involves doing small steps right, then growing the project from there. That Cape Cod project involved 60 - 70 additional turbines. I think the company has a better chance for success.
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