| wind news |

BTM Consult foresees big things for China

new report from BTM Consult estimates that by 2012, China will install 35,500 MW of wind energy capacity, making it the sectors second biggest market worldwide after the US. In 2008, the country installed over 6,300 MW of new wind power capacity to bring it to a total of 12,210 MW. China currently boasts over 30 wind turbine manufacturers, including Goldwind and Sinovel, and many more subcontractors for components. According to the report, Chinas growth is linked to a strong legislative framework thanks to its government, which gives a high priority to clean energy technology. Chinas strength in wind energy should, according to the report, be suf cient to let it compensate for reduction in other markets linked to the economic crisis.
SC For more information: www.btm.dk Chinas explosion in wind power has resulted in thousands of new jobs
Photo: Nordex

Survey reveals policy leadership seen as key for wind growth

Photo: EDF

Government support is seen as pivotal for creating pathways to a wind energy future

overnment support is the single most important factor for wind energy development in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, according to a recent survey. The online questionnaire,

organised by Renewable Energy World magazine and sponsored by Mobil Industrial Lubricants, was run towards the end of last year. Replies came from 60 different countries worldwide, with 63% of them from people working in the sector. Alongside government support, targets and national renewables policies were seen as important drivers of wind energy development by around 95% of the responses. Signi cant barriers holding up the industrys growth are seen to be grid access and site availability. On the other hand, the cost of new farms is not considered a valid reason for preventing wind energy expansion, and local opposition is perceived to have a far lower negative overall impact than a lack of political support. In terms of other low carbon technologies, the respondents were almost equally divided between those who consider nuclear energy as a threat to wind, and those for whom it does not affect wind development. Carbon capture and storage (CCS), however, is seen by two-thirds as no threat to wind, and the majority consider it to be an unrealistic solution for 2020 and very expensive. The countries seen as having the largest wind potential up to 2025 are the US, China and the UK.
SC For more information: www.renewableenergyworld.com

WIND DIRECTIONS | March 2009

| wind news |

PORTUGAL

I look forward to being part of the president-elects team, which believes that we must repair the economy and put us on a path forward towards sustainable energy.
Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu, newly appointed US Energy Secretary. 15 December 2008

EDF EN opens 240 MW wind farm

A 240 MW wind farm in Ventominho, Portugal, wind farm is now fully operational. Made up of 2 MW Enercon turbines, 85% of the farm is shared between EDF EN Portugal and Eolverde (Endesa).
For more information: www.edf-energies-nouvelles.com

Everyone clearly understood that they were not being punished but being given the opportunity to move towards new types of production which would allow European industry to use the best, cleanest and most modern technology.
EU and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on the climate and energy package. 11 December 2008

IRELAND

Mainstream Renewable Power raising EUR 50 million in nancing

Mainstream Renewable Power is said to be raising funds of over 50 million for new wind projects worldwide. The Irish company, launched by Airtricity founder Eddie OConnor, plans to install 400 MW of capacity in Chile and is also targeting the US market.
For more information: www.mainstreamrp.com

Today tomorrow changed. The European Parliament and the Council have agreed the worlds most important energy law. Europe has chosen to put the money that was going to fuel-exporting countries to work at home, in order to exploit our abundant domestic renewable energy resources.
Christian Kjaer, EWEA Chief Executive. 9 December 2008

Employment in wind energy sector on the rise

There were 20,781 direct jobs in the wind energy sector in Spain in 2007, and 37,730 indirect jobs, according to the new report by Deloitte, commissioned by the Asociacin Empresarial Elica (AEE). This is an increase of over 10,000 indirect jobs on 2003 and the trend should continue to 55,912 positions by 2012.
For more information: www.aeeolica.es

The clock is ticking. Work needs to shift into a higher gear.

Yvo de Boer, head of the U.N.s climate change secretariat. 1 December 2008

I want to stress one overriding point: energy and climate change are two sides of the same coin. We must agree the climate package in December to make a start on energy security.
Jos Manuel Duro Barroso, President of the European Commission, in the opening remarks on the 2nd Strategic Energy Review 13 November 2008

Darkness doesnt stop workers at this Spanish wind farm

Energy from fossil fuels is the root cause of human induced climate change. The commitment of Europe to a post-carbon economy and sustainable renewable energy is essential for energy security and tackling climate change.
Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency (EEA) 20 November 2008

Here is the good news: the bold steps that are needed to solve the climate crisis are exactly the same steps that ought to be taken in order to solve the economic crisis and the energy security crisis.
Al Gore in The New York Times 9 November 2008

Photo: Gamesa

ITALY

Gamesa supplies turbines to Italy

Gamesa is to supply 26 wind turbine generators of 850 kW to the Italian company Alerion Parco Eolico Licodia Eubea S.R.L in 2009. The turbines will go to the Licodia Eubea Wind Farm in Catania, Sicily. Gamesa will also be responsible for installing and operating the turbines. Every year, the new turbines will avoid 33,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
For more information: www.gamesa.es

There is enough wind on land and over the seas of northern Europe to supply a signicant amount of our electricity demand.
Eddie OConnor, secretary of EWEA and Chief Executive of Mainstream Renewable Power, at a Friends of Europe energy conference, Brussels 30 October 2008

WIND DIRECTIONS | March 2009