Introduction Bio fuels and Agro Chemicals The Chemicals & Environment Trade Cluster in Lyon Renewable energy in France Wood-burning stoves, solar paneling and wind turbines Wind Turbines in France Business opportunities in the environment sector Focus on the waste management sector Asbestos, France starts to clean up The end of French plastic bags Environmental Legislation Facing the Housing Sector in France Wind Energy In Europe Wind Energy In The USA Going Green with Eco Building Materials Hemp, the eco-friendly building material

Wind Energy In Europe

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) estimates that the global installed capacity of wind energy increased by 30% in 2007, to 94,000MW. Capital investment in the sector topped €25Bn in 2007. The highest growth rates were seen in China, which more than doubled its capacity to reach 6GW. According to a recent study by the Worldwatch Institute, China could outpace the existing leaders, Germany and the USA, within the next 4 years, on track to reach its own goal of generating 15% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020 compared to 8% today.

Europe remains the largest wind energy market toady with more than 56,535MW of installed capacity, equivalent to 61% of world capacity and equal to 3.7% of EU power demand. In 2007, Europe added 18% more capacity, or 8,554MW, according to the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). While Germany remains the leader, last year’s investments actually saw a decline of 25% on 2006 when 1,208 wind turbines were installed. At the end of 2007, Germany counted 19,460 wind turbines and with a production of 39.5TWh (TeraWatt hours), wind energy represented 7.2% of national electricity consumption. To match EU targets and its own energy policy (18% of total energy sources derived from renewable sources by 2020), Germany is counting on developing offshore wind turbines and on replacing older generation turbines with higher capacity new turbines.

Spain led the EU for growth in wind capacity in 2007 in Europe, adding 3,522MW of capacity and making it the solid second largest European player with a total of 15,145MW. Some 10% of electricity in Spain is now generated from wind energy. France also saw strong growth, adding 888MW to top 2,454MW of capacity. The French government has recently given a further boost to the sector and several large projects for off-shore wind energy are now underway. The new EU member states increased their installed capacity by 60% albeit from low levels.