Spain’s wind industry association (AEE) warned on Monday that a proposed tax on energy companies’ superprofits could curb investment in renewable energy, just as Europe seeks to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
The criticism comes as five EU countries, including Spain, submitted a proposal to tax excess profits made in the wake of soaring energy prices caused by the war in Iran.
Reuters exclusively reported on Saturday that the finance ministers of Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Austria jointly called for an EU-wide tax in a letter to the European Commission, saying the measure could help finance aid for consumers hit by high prices. energy.
According to the AEE, renewable energies, and more particularly wind power, have proven to be the most effective mechanism for containing prices in Spain, one of the European leaders in wind energy.
“Proposing potential new taxes affecting the electricity sector creates legal uncertainty and deters investors, precisely at a time when it is more necessary than ever to invest in technologies such as wind power to replace imported fossil fuels,” the organization said in a statement.
The AEE has more than 350 members, including utilities Iberdrola, Endesa, Acciona, Portuguese energy company Galp, as well as developers, wind turbine manufacturers, consultants, financial institutions and insurers. (Report by Emma Pinedo, French version by the Paris office)
