Wind energy gives Europe a competitive advantage
From an article on Wind Daily:
Wind energy can replace a large proportion of the polluting and finite fuels we currently rely on,” explained Andris Piebalgs, EU Energy Commissioner, at the opening session of the European Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition (EWEC) organised by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).
“It makes good sense to invest in indigenous sources of power which hedge against unpredictable fossil fuel prices and in which Europe has a real competitive advantage.”
According to the European Commission, 3.5% of the world’s proven coal reserves are in the EU. We sit on less than 2% of the world’s gas; less than 2% of its uranium and we have under 1% of the world’s oil. ‘The fight over the world’s rapidly depleting fuel resources is already intensifying,’ emphasised Arthouros Zervos, EWEA’s President, at the session.
“It will only become more brutal with time and Europe will lose the battle. European companies have two thirds of the EUR35 billion global market for wind power technology. Wind energy is Europe’s contribution to peace, progress and prosperity and we should urgently develop, promote and export it to the best of our ability.”
Wind energy’s contribution to prosperity is analysed in detail in a new EWEA report, which Zervos presented to delegates.
“The Economics of Wind Energy provides a detailed insight into wind energy economics and compares the costs of wind to those of other power-generating technologies.”
Zervos also announced that EWEA has increased its 2020 target for installed wind energy capacity in the EU from 180 GW to 230 GW, including 40 GW offshore.
