German Wind Energy Association (BWE)

With around 17,000 members, the BWE ist one of the world's largest renewable energy associations. It is committed to the sustainable expansion of wind energy and the best possible utilisation of wind power.

The companies of the wind industry meet in its advisory councils and discuss its technical and political orientation. At its events and in its publications, it passes on its knowledge –to newcomers and experts alike.

THE EXPORT COMMITTEES IN THE GERMAN WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION e.V.

Various perspectives – one common interest: the accelerated expansion of onshore wind energy. The German Wind Energy Association provides its diverse members with the opportunity to organize themselves both professionally and politically in order to pursue this very goal. Through targeted exchange of expertise and the associated political coordination, the association derives policy recommendations as well as essential information for its members.

Thus, the broad expertise of the BWE relies on the diversity of its members. In fact, the association includes a wide range of stakeholders, such as plant operators, operations managers, project developers, experts, lawyers, financiers, investors, and community energy organizations, as well as equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers. The BWE consolidates their expertise and experience in advisory boards and working groups. The largest group within the BWE, the plant operators, also have the opportunity to exchange ideas in operator forums.

In all of these specialist committees, members discuss and address current technical issues in their respective fields, developing both technical and political solutions to all key industry topics. They form the basis of the association's technical and political work, advising the board of directors and the executive committee. The concrete technical work of these experts often results in position papers and statements. These documents are heard and considered during the frequent regulatory changes at both the European and national levels.

In practice, over 800 individuals serve as voluntary members in the BWE's specialist committees. The committee members typically convene two to four times a year. The departments primarily responsible for the thematic and organizational support of these committees are the Wind Expertise Division, along with the Legal Department and the Policy Division. The collaboration between these policy areas enables well-founded technical work and politically effective association activities. The information papers, statements, and position papers developed are made available to all BWE members.

ADVISORY BOARDS

• Operator Advisory Board
• Operational Managers Advisory Board
• Citizen's Wind Energy Advisory Board
• Funding Body Advisory Board
• Legal Advisory Board
• Nature Conservation Advisory Board
• Project developers
• Expert Advisory Board
• Communication Advisory Board
• Wind Consultant Advisory Board

WORKING GROUPS

They are organized across advisory boards, able to act swiftly, and can involve external experts. In addition to Energy Policy and Grids, they are active on topics such as direct marketing, air traffic and radar, labeling, continued operation and plant safety, and participation.

• Energy Policy
  The exchange of current political topics takes center stage in the work opf this group.
• Grids
  The diverse aspects of the grid topic are reflected in the responsibilities of this group.

For more information about the work of various expert committees, please visit www.wind-energie.de/english/association/committees/