The European Parliament's Energy and Research Committee has voted to allocate 6 billion euros to renewable energy, energy storage, energy-efficiency and smart grids, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) says.
The investment represents approximately three-quarters of the next energy research budget.
‘[Members of European Parliament have understood how crucial wind energy and other renewables are to the [European Union's] economic growth, technology leadership and fighting climate change, and that sufficient R&D funding is essential to further their development in line with the EU's climate and renewable energy priorities," notes Vilma Radvilaite, EWEA's regulatory affairs adviser.
‘With 75% of its energy funding going to renewables, energy efficiency, smart grid and storage technologies – and an additional 15% going to the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme – Horizon 2020 gives a real boost to green growth," she adds.
The committee also boosted transparency and clarity for wind energy research by agreeing on dedicated and separate budget lines for wind energy and the other strategic energy technology plan technologies.
