EWEA: Wind Capacity Grew More in the EU in 2007 Than Any Other Power-Generating Technology

February 4, 2008 – Vol. 12 No. 46

European Wind Energy Association (EWEA): Wind Capacity Grew More in the EU in 2007 Than Any Other Power-Generating Technology.

Installed capacity of wind power increased by 18 percent to reach a level of 56,535 MW (Megawatts). The total capacity of new wind turbines brought on line across the European Union last year was 8,554 MW, an increase of 935 MW on the 2006 total. Total wind power capacity installed by the end of 2007 will produce 119 Terawatt hours in an average wind year, equal to 3.7 percent of EU power demand and avoid about 90 million tons of CO2 annually.

Spain installed 3,522 MW of wind capacity last year – the highest amount of any European country in any year ever. Now 10 percent of its electricity now comes from the wind.

France added 888 MW to reach 2,454 MW. Italy added 603 MW for a total of 2,726 MW. Poland added new capacity to reach 276 MW. The Czech Republic installed 63 MW, and Bulgaria 34 MW.

Germany, Portugal and the UK underperformed in 2007, according to the EWEA and saw overall market growth in 2007 of only 12 percent.

Globally the market for wind turbines grew by approximately 30 percent in 2007 to 20,000 MW, and European companies continue to lead the market which is estimated to have been worth some EUR 25 billion ($37 billion).

Wind power continued to be one of the most popular electricity generating technologies in the EU in 2007, making up 40 percent of total new power installations. Since 2000, the EU has installed 158,000 MW of new power capacity. New gas installations totalled 88,000 MW; wind energy 47,000 MW; coal 9,600 MW; oil 4,200; hydro 3,100; biomass 1,700 MW; and nuclear 1,200 MW over the eight-year period, according to figures from Platts PowerVision and EWEA.

EWEA actively promotes the utilisation of wind power in Europe and worldwide. It now has 400 members from 40 countries, including manufacturers with a 98 percent share of the world wind power market, plus component suppliers, research institutes, national wind and renewables associations, developers, contractors, electricity providers, finance and insurance companies and consultants. (2/4/08)

Links:

EWEA
http://www.ewea.org

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