EWEA: 180 GW of Wind Power Possible in Europe by 2020

[jpak]

http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=48410

Wind power could generate up to 16% of Europe's electricity by 2020. This was the message delegates heard at the opening of the European Wind Energy Conference (EWEC) in Milan, Italy, yesterday.

Presenting figures to show that approximately one-third of new generating capacity installed in Europe between 2002 and 2006 was wind power, Arthouros Zervos, president of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), noted that a crucial factor in this increase was the expansion of the market outside Germany, Spain and Denmark.

"Today Europe has 50,000 MW of installed wind capacity. In an average wind year this produces approximately 100 TWh of electricity, equal to 3.3% of total EU electricity consumption. If we reach 180 GW by 2020, this will produce more than 500 TWh of electricity a year which represents a five fold increase compared to today's production," said Zervos during the opening session of EWEC 2007.

Organized by EWEA, the four-day conference is expecting more than 3,000 attendees this week at the Milano Convention Centre. With 500-plus presentations designed to analyze and debate the steps required for meeting a large part of European electricity needs by wind power, EWEC 2007 sessions will explore how to create stable political frameworks; upgrade existing power infrastructure to incorporate wind energy; take steps to continue cost reductions; increase offshore wind production; and intensify research, innovation and technological progress in the wind sector.

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