Europe expands wind market by 23% in 2006

BRUSSELS, Belgium, February 21, 2007. Europe installed 7,588 MW of wind turbines last year, valued at Euro 9 billion, an increase of 23% over the installation levels of 2005.

The market for European wind power capacity broke new records in 2006, according to annual statistics from the European Wind Energy Association. The cumulative wind capacity in the EU increased 19% to 48,027 MW, which can generate 100 TWh of electricity in an average wind year, equal to 3.3% of total EU power consumption.

For the seventh year in a row, wind is second only to gas-fired capacity (8,500 MW) in terms of new electricity generating installations, EWEA explains. Germany and Spain continue to attract the majority of investments and, last year, represented 50% of the EU market, but there is a “healthy trend in the European market towards less reliance on Germany and Spain.” In 2002, 680 MW of European wind capacity was installed outside Germany, Spain and Denmark; last year, that level was 3,755 MW.

“Excluding the three pioneering countries, we have experienced a six-fold increase in the annual market in four years,” explains Christian Kjaer of EWEA. “The figures clearly confirm that a second wave of European countries is investing in wind power.”

“We are now witnessing the strong effect of the EU Renewable Electricity Directive passed in 2001 and, once again, urge the European Commission and the Council to introduce safeguard measures that ensure legal stability for renewable electricity in Europe,” he adds. “The figures released today confirm that sector-specific legislation is the most efficient way to boost renewable electricity production.”

Germany installed 2,233 MW of turbines last year, 23% more than 2005, and passed the 20,000 MW mark. Spain was the second largest market with 1,587 MW, while France moved into third place from sixth by installing 810 MW during 2006.

Portugal installed 694 MW of new capacity, more than in any previous year, and is constructing another 1,063 MW on its way to meet the government target of 3,750 MW by 2010. The UK installed 634 MW in 2006 and total installed capacity increased by 47%, while Italy installed 417 MW and Ireland set a new record with 250 MW, increasing its total capacity by 50%.

New wind in the EU-10 tripled to 183 MW last year, mostly in Poland, Lithuania and Hungary. Bulgaria installed 22 MW, while Romania installed 1.3 MW of turbines. Eight countries in the EU now have surpassed the 1,000 MW threshold of wind capacity.

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