Greta Thunberg she is certainly the most famous environmental activist in the world, but maybe she doesn't like wind power. You are the icon, especially youthful, of the mobilization to save the planet frompollution and from CO2. And today there is a new climate strike.
The outbursts of Greta and her movement, however, sometimes leave us perplexed. The other day in Norway the activist was stopped by the police because she was protesting against a wind farm which would block the pastures of the indigenous Sami. The people of Lapland with old and respectable traditions would be harmed, that is, by one plant that produces that clean energy that Greta and her movement have been calling for years all over the world. In order not to get confused about the energy transition and about the support of concrete green movements, we recall that within the next seven years only Europe wants to produce the43 percent of energy from the wind. Already today it has 255 GW of installed capacity. Should we stop? And why then, if the blades have no emissions, do they work with the force of nature?
From threatened pastures, to disturbed birds, to landscapes disturbed by wind turbines, the world of wind power faces all kinds of opposition. Italy Country symbol of these problems. However, the NO fronts, out of retaliation and taste (?) for controversy, often end up agreeing with those who support the old polluting sources. Without even, as it needs to, a balanced transient mix.
Germany blown by the wind
The latest report of wind Europe says that the Germany is the most advanced countryi in the 19 GW of wind energy installed in 2022. In second and third place there are Sweden and Finland, countries very close to Norway "besieged" by Greta Thunberg. Wind must grow by an increment of 31 GW per year until 2030. Currently only 17% of EU demand is covered by wind energy, while moves are being made on the reform of the electricity market.
Governments argue, argue, change positions, but the Green Deal it remains a main road, albeit with some potholes. The choices on renewables look more and more like a crazy compass. “87% of new wind capacity in Europe last year was onshore. Only 2,5 GW are on new offshore wind farms» explains the Association of Italian Wind Industries, Anev. In a note he dwells on the Italian situation. Despite the good indications contained in the PNRR Italy continues to lose positions and is in seventh place for installed power. The 2022 figure is still very low with only 526 MW installed, 30 of which offshore. Private investments are ready and the area has potential to be exploited. Then you have to decide.
Italy seventh in Europe calls for streamlined rules
Between controversies that have never completely died down on the selected sites and slow authorizations, in fact, the Italian numbers do not cross the European strategy. There are political manipulations Of every kind. Regions, businesses and local authorities are attacked. In Sanno the last protest is underway for a park that has already been planned. «European countries are expected to be able to install an average of 20 GW of new wind power per year, but it is not enough to reach the energy and climate objectives set at European levelwrites Anev again. And it relaunches the simplification of regulations, new investments for a value chain between factories, networks, ports, ships and skilled workers. An uninspiring picture.
But not everything plots against investors and industries. More momentum must also come from policy whose vision must be continental and not limited to national borders. The REPowerEU with projects and funds for research it has helped renewables, but if for a privileged source you remain nailed to 17%, something doesn't turn out as it should.
