Wind Energy Gives Europe a Competitive Advantage, Says EU Energy Commissioner

Marseille, France (ots/PRNewswire) - "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) this morning. "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 launched today, 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. He explained that "the agreement on the EU
Renewable Energy Directive in December 2008 and its mandatory 2020
renewables targets for the Member States have increased our optimism
for the sector's outlook. We have therefore increased our targets.
However, these targets will only be met if all the Member States
implement the directive swiftly and effectively."

Previously, EWEA's target was set at 180 GW of installed capacity
in the EU by 2020, including 35 GW offshore. The new 230 GW target
would produce approximately 600 TWh per year in the EU by 2020, power
equivalent to the needs of 135 million average EU households (60% of
EU households) and meeting between 14 and 18% of EU electricity
demand (depending on total demand in 2020).

Mechtild Rothe, Vice President of the European Parliament said
that wind energy can make a real difference to employment and
economies. "Wind energy is an excellent example of how to
intelligently invest in a future-orientated sustainable economy
getting thousands of people into jobs," she said. "Especially in
these times of uncertainty it is very important that the European
wind energy industry has created more than 60,000 new jobs over the
past five years. These are not mere statistics - this is the
competitive strength of Europe! Wind energy has definitely become a
driving force of our economies. We have learned from the current
crisis that we should not wait until the problems are there before we
act - we need to invest in wind energy now."

Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director, International Energy Agency
(IEA), focused on the environmental benefits of wind energy in his
presentation, saying that it "has an important role to play in
climate change mitigation" but to tap into wind's full potential "we
need effective national policies and a strong international
framework. We need to reinforce, expand and link up our transmission
networks. We must also increase research and development efforts in
wind energy technology." Tanaka went on to stress the importance of
focusing economic recovery plans on green investments for a
short-term stimulus and long-term benefits.

Roland Sunden, CEO of LM Glasfiber and Chair of EWEC 2009 said
today that "in 2008, more wind was installed in the EU than any other
power generating technology. The track record of wind is the most
visible proof that it creates great value. And as the financial and
economic crises deepen, this becomes especially relevant, and that
relevance creates a historic window of opportunity for everybody who
is committed to combating climate change, to supporting technological
leadership and to creating new competitive exports and jobs."

Andre Antolini, President of the French Renewable Energy
Association (SER) cited France as a specific example of the
difference wind can make to the economy. He said that "in France
there are now over 130 companies that produce components for - or
offer services to - the wind energy sector. Wind energy helps
industry and the economy." Marcin Korolec, Secretary of State for the
Ministry of the Economy in Poland, agreed. "The development of wind
energy stimulates the whole economy, particularly at times of
crisis", he said.

Jean-Louis Bal, Renewable Energy Director at ADEME, reinforced
the important effects meeting the 2020 targets will have on Europe's
future, saying that "the 20-20-20 by 2020 objectives represent an
important investment, but also an investment whose medium and long
term benefits are far higher than the costs."

To give a visual display of the benefits of wind energy Roland
Sunden switched on a 'wind energy counter', which will run until the
close of EWEC. The counter will show how much electricity wind has
provided in Europe, how many investments have been made and jobs
created in the sector, and the number of turbines built during the
four days.

EWEC is taking place in Marseille and will run until Thursday 19
March. Other sessions will cover political, grid, technical and
scientific issues related to wind energy. Broadcast-standard videos
highlighting the main activities at EWEC will be made available on
www.thenewsmarket.com as from Tuesday, 17 March.

To download 'The Economics of Wind Energy', click here:
http://www.ewea.org/index.php?id=11.

For more information on EWEC, see http://www.ewec2009.info.

Contact:
Isabelle Valentiny
T: +32-2-546-19-81
M: +32-474-54-20-25

ots Originaltext: European Wind Energy Association (EWEA)
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Contact: Isabelle Valentiny, T: +32-2-546-19-81, M: +32-474-54-20-25