· 7 comments · Save ·
News & Current Events Apr 6, 2026 at 2:28 PM

Spanish wind industry warns EU windfall tax could hurt investment

Posted by pritam_ram

🚩 Report this post

7 Comments

Sign in to comment — or just click the box below.
🔒 Your email is never shown publicly.
sweetnsourgrapes Apr 6, 2026 +6
Wouldn't it be a windrise tax?
6
Bukkokori Apr 6, 2026 +10
No. In the EU, the price of electricity is calculated based on its most expensive source, which is usually natural gas. This leads to outright abuse by electric utilities, which—even though they generate only 20% (for example, I don't know the exact figure) of their electricity from natural gas—charge the highest price for everything. This is referred to as "Windfall profits" and it is what they want to tax. To say that it is the wind power sector that is complaining is a lie, since it is the traditional electric utilities that generate a large portion of their power very cheaply using wind energy but charge for everything at natural gas prices.
10
Terry_WT Apr 7, 2026 +3
It’s called a merit based order system and you’re correct, it’s the gas generators that are dictating the price because they can effectively hold the supply to ransom due to the nature of them being able to fill in the gaps that renewables can’t. Most wind operators including myself operate on fixed term contracts for electricity export prices, most (also unfortunately including myself) aren’t benefiting from the higher prices because they aren’t due for a contract renewal. The energy suppliers, the people who buy power from producers like me and sell via the grid to people like you are the ones making the big profits right now.
3
MilkFew2273 Apr 10, 2026 +1
But that's what it was designed for, resellers just making money. This directly messes up the cost of living and the cost of doing business and noone bars an eye, this is predatory. The EU would need to drive a unified grid with capped prices adjusted for COL. Generate as much as possible everywhere , distribute according to need with people firstz business second, adjust price based on grid maintenance needs, capacity and COL. So subsidise poorer countries but incentivize them to fix their shit.
1
AssistX Apr 6, 2026 +4
'Taxing profits reduces investment' Deep stuff
4
QuentinMagician Apr 7, 2026 +1
Gouging consumers might piss them off
1
Guaymaster Apr 7, 2026 +1
Of course the wind industry would not want the wind to fall!
1
← Back to Board