The European association WindEurope, of which the Association RES Serbia is a proud member, organized from April 21 to 23 in Madrid a major annual event dedicated to wind energy – WindEurope Annual Event 2026. The gathering brought together more than 16,000 participants from industry, academia, and the public sector, confirming that wind energy remains a key pillar of Europe’s energy transition.
Disinformation as a threat to energy development
At the opening, an analysis of the spread of disinformation undermining wind energy development and Europe’s energy security was presented. European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen emphasized that wind is a strategic resource for stability and competitiveness, while WindEurope’s CEO Tinne van der Straeten particularly warned about the consequences of campaigns based on false narratives:
– Wind energy dis- and misinformation are much more than a social media phenomenon. Across Europe, wind energy projects worth billions of Euros have been halted or cancelled, often following protests and campaigns underpinned by dis- and misinformation claims. The results are alarming: a slower transition to home-grown renewables and higher electricity prices for European consumers – said WindEurope CEO.
Electrification as the key way out of the crisis
The second day of the event was dedicated to electrification, i.e. replacing fossil fuels with homegrown electricity. The Madrid Call to Action was presented, with ten concrete measures to accelerate electrification, including reducing taxes on electric vehicles and heat pumps, speeding up industrial power purchase agreements (PPAs), and strengthening support for electrification of heating and transport. Experts stressed that electrification is the only sustainable path to energy independence and long-term price stability.
AccelerateEU – new package of measures by the European Commission
The European Commission presented the AccelerateEU package, which foresees repowering existing wind farms, reducing fiscal burdens on electrification technologies, and adopting a comprehensive electrification action plan by the summer of 2026. The goal of the package is to make homegrown electricity the most affordable option for consumers and industry, thereby further accelerating the transition to a green economy.
The Commission announced that the action plan will include measures to remove barriers in the industrial, transport, and construction sectors, while a legislative proposal on network charges and taxation will ensure that electricity is taxed less than fossil fuels.
Estimates by the European Commission show that investments of 660 billion EUR annually until 2030 are needed for the energy transition. Since public funds cannot fully cover this amount, significant private capital will need to be mobilized, alongside maximum use of existing European funds and new financial instruments.
Offshore wind in focus
The final day of WindEurope’s annual gathering was dedicated to the development of offshore wind farms. A commitment was confirmed to build 15 GW of capacity annually from 2031 to 2040, with planned cost reductions of 30%. Offshore wind was presented as a key factor for Europe’s energy security and stable prices, with the industry pledging to ensure competitiveness through innovation and investment.
At this prestigious event, the Association RES Serbia was represented by Manager, Danijela Isailović, along with numerous members of the Association, as well as representatives of Serbia’s academic community and public sector.
© WindEurope
