Wind power in Europe: Difference between revisions
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Windpower today, in an average wind year, generates the equivalent of over 20% of Denmark’s electricity use and 25–30% of that of three German ''Länder'', and on windy days with light loads, over 100% of the load in certain regions, particularly in West Denmark, North Germany, and northern Spain.<ref>Lovins, Amory B. (2005). [http://www.rmi.org/images/other/Energy/E05-08_NukePwrEcon.pdf, Nuclear power: economics and climate-protection potential], see footnote 28.</ref> |
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==Germany== |
==Germany== |
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Revision as of 09:53, 24 June 2007
The market for European wind power capacity grew in 2006, according to statistics from the European Wind Energy Association. 7,588 MW of wind power capacity, worth some €9 billion, was installed in the European Union (EU) in 2006, an increase of 23% compared to 2005.[1]
The cumulative wind power capacity operating in the EU increased by 19% and now exceeds 48,000 MW in 2006. In an average wind year this will produce approximately 100 TWh of electricity, equal to 3.3% of total EU electricity consumption. For the seventh consecutive year, wind power is second only to gas-fired capacity (approximately 8,500 MW in 2006) in terms of new electricity generating installations. [1]
Germany and Spain continue to attract the majority of investments. In 2006 these two countries represented 50% of the EU wind power market.[1]
Research from a wide variety of sources in various countries shows that support for wind power is consistently between 70 and 80 per cent amongst the general public.[2]
Top 10 European Countries
The Table below shows the installed wind power capacity of the top 10 countries at the end of 2006.[3] The actual total for Europe is 48,545 MW and as can be seen here this group makes up 94%, even though there are now 27 countries in the EU.
| Country | MegaWatts (MW) | Growth in 2006 (MW) |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 20,622 | 2,233 |
| Spain | 11,615 | 1,587 |
| Denmark | 3,136 | |
| Italy | 2,123 | 417 |
| UK | 1,963 | 634 |
| Portugal | 1,716 | 694 |
| France | 1,567 | 810 |
| Netherlands | 1,560 | |
| Austria | 965 | |
| Greece | 746 | |
| Total | 46,013 |
Windpower today, in an average wind year, generates the equivalent of over 20% of Denmark’s electricity use and 25–30% of that of three German Länder, and on windy days with light loads, over 100% of the load in certain regions, particularly in West Denmark, North Germany, and northern Spain.[4]
Germany
Germany is the world's largest user of wind power with an installed capacity of 20,621MW in 2006, ahead of Spain which had an installed capacity of 11,615MW.[5] More than 18,000 wind turbines are located in the German federal area and the country has plans to build more wind turbines.[6]
Wind power in Germany produces about six percent of the country's total power and it is said that no other nation has more technological know-how in this area. Wind power in Germany provides over 64,000 people with jobs and German wind energy systems are also exported.[6]
However, the economics of wind power in Germany are under close scrutiny [7] and there are other issues which deserve consideration. These include the effect of wind turbines on the landscape, the effect on the bird population, and the effect on the tourist industry.[6][8]
Spain
Wind power in Spain is one of the technologies of the future where Spain is a leader in the field.[9] Spain is the second leading producer of wind power in Europe (after Germany) and is in competition with the United States for second place globally.[9][10] “Spain holds these positions as a result of the establishment of a stable regulatory framework, better understanding of the resource, and improved technology that have afforded considerable cost reduction in terms of initial investment, maintenance, and exploitation”.[9]
Denmark
Wind power in Denmark provides some 20 per cent of Danish domestic electricity [11] and Denmark is a leading wind power nation in the world. The Danes were pioneers in developing commercial wind power during the 1970’s and today almost half of the wind turbines around the world are produced by Danish manufacturers such as Vestas.[12]
The Danish wind turbine industry is the world’s largest and 90% of the wind turbines manufactured in Denmark are sold to international markets. In 2003, the Danish manufacturers had a total world market share of approximately 38%, generating a combined turnover of almost 3 billion Euro and maintaining over 20,000 people employed in the industry, from wind turbine factories to maintenance and research.[12]
The development of wind power in Denmark has been characterized by a close collaboration between publicly financed research and industry in key areas such as research and development, certification, testing, and the preparation of standards.[11]
United Kingdom
In February 2007 the installed capacity of wind power in the United Kingdom passed the 2 GW milestone, equivalent to two coal fired power stations, with the opening of the Braes O'Doune wind farm, near Stirling. The UK is the seventh country in the world to reach this capacity.[13]
Republic of Ireland
Ireland is one of the best locations in Europe for wind power as it is situated on the Western edge of Europe and exposed to high winds from the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea. Wind power utility factors tend to be higher in Ireland than anywhere else. By the end of 2006 the installed capacity of wind power in Ireland was over 745 MW.
Most wind farms in Ireland are located in coastal regions and especially in the West of Ireland. However the Irish Sea is getting some attention and the first offshore wind farm in Ireland is located a few kilometres north of Arklow and 10km out to sea and is known as the Arklow Bank Wind Park. This is set to expand in the future. Other proposals are an offshore wind farm on the Kish Bank which is about 15 kilometres offshore from Dublin, the capital city.
See also
- European Wind Energy Association
- Wind power in Denmark
- Wind power in Estonia
- Wind power in Germany
- Energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom
- Wind power in Scotland
- Renewable energy in the European Union
- Climate change
- Hydrogen energy plant in Denmark
By Category
References
- ^ a b c European Market for Wind Turbines Grows 23% in 2006
- ^ Fact sheet 4: Tourism
- ^ Wind farms in Portugal, March 2007
- ^ Lovins, Amory B. (2005). Nuclear power: economics and climate-protection potential, see footnote 28.
- ^ Global wind energy markets continue to boom – 2006 another record year
- ^ a b c Wind energy in Germany -- overview
- ^ Germany's wind farms challenged
- ^ Renewable energies: between climate protection and nature conservation?
- ^ a b c Montes (2007). "The current situation of wind energy in Spain". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 11 (3). Elsevier: 467–481.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "UK wind power reaches milestone". BBC. 2007-2-9. Retrieved 2007-15-2.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ a b Wind energy: a visionary match
- ^ a b The world's leader in Wind Power
- ^ UK wind power portfolio reaches new milestone