Wind Power Blows Into Europe

Wind power is becoming an increasingly important component of energy portfolios across the European Union (EU), according to a recent report in the New York Times. Driven by the EU's strong commitment to meeting Kyoto Protocol goals for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, European nations have an installed capacity of 20,000 MW, with plans for another 40,000 MW over the next six years.

By Staff March 1, 2003

Wind power is becoming an increasingly important component of energy portfolios across the European Union (EU), according to a recent report in the New York Times. Driven by the EU’s strong commitment to meeting Kyoto Protocol goals for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, European nations have an installed capacity of 20,000 MW, with plans for another 40,000 MW over the next six years.

System designers are increasingly turning to offshore locations, because winds there are stronger and blow more steadily-and not-in-my-backyard complaints are fewer. Power companies have been joining with offshore-oil producers to get the drilling and rigging assistance they need to install the towers, which can weigh up to 100 tons.

Germany is Europe’s wind-power leader, the Times report says, with current wind-turbine capacity surpassing 10,650 MW. However, Denmark leads the EU on a per capita basis, using wind power to supply 18% of its population with electricity.

From Pure Power, Spring 2003