The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) described the Energy Council meeting as “a useful step forward” but said it had failed to address “the current crisis being experienced by the wind industry”.

In a letter to EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger, the EWEA points out that stop-go policies and ­retroactive charging have undermined business confidence and needlessly increased capital costs.

Sadly, there was still no consensus on renewables targets for 2030, leaving discussions to continue under the Irish presidency, which begins on 1 January.