Europe to continue expanding wind power despite Trump’s criticism

European governments including Germany, Britain and Denmark will on Monday reinforce plans to accelerate the expansion of wind power projects, even as U.S. President Donald Trump has stepped up his criticism of Europe’s green agenda, according to a draft statement seen by Reuters.

Trump has publicly attacked Europe’s energy transition in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, calling wind turbines “losers” and saying – without providing evidence – that countries that install more turbines lose more money.

However, at Monday’s summit in Hamburg, nine European governments will sign a joint commitment to accelerate the development of offshore wind energy through large-scale cross-border projects, with the aim of reaching a total capacity of 300 GW by 2050. Britain and participating European Union states will contribute up to 100 GW through joint projects, the draft statement said.

The document, to be signed by Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Germany, highlights the economic and strategic benefits of expanding offshore energy.

“Expanding offshore renewable energy will help promote a stable, secure and affordable energy supply, stimulate local value creation, strengthen our industries and competitiveness, increase strategic autonomy and create jobs,” the statement says.

High financing and component costs have led to the failure of wind farm tenders in several North Sea countries, but governments are promising to step up support measures. Options include guarantees from the EU budget and the implementation of schemes such as “contracts for difference”, which provide energy producers with a stable stream of income after commissioning.

Wind and solar power produced more electricity than fossil fuels in the European Union for the first time last year, confirming the bloc’s direction towards a low-emissions economy despite opposition from some governments.