EWEA - The European Wind Energy Association

Harnessing the sustainable power of wind is one of the most positive developments created by  today’s storm of uncertainty unleashed as a result of escalating oil prices, climate change, environmental degradation, dwindling fossil fuel stocks and dependence on foreign energy supplies.

Indeed, the European Union has set a binding target of 20% of its energy supply to come from wind and other renewable sources by 2020. In order to achieve this 20% energy target, more than one-third of the European electrical demand would have to come from renewables, with wind power expected to deliver 14-18%.

Some of the many benefits associated with wind power:

• Economic growth and job creation. In 2009, investment in new European wind farms reached €13 billion, including €1.5 billion offshore. 2009 is the second year running that more wind power capacity has been installed than any other electricity-generating technology, and wind’s share of newly installed capacity increased from 35% in 2008 to 39% in 2009. About 192,000 people in the EU were in wind energy-related employment in 2009. The wind industry could create up to 250,000 new jobs in the EU from by 2020.
• Cleaning up the environment. The 75 GW of wind power installed at the end of 2009 in the EU avoided the emission of 106 million tonnes of CO₂, equivalent to taking 25% of EU cars – or 53 million vehicles – off the road. Moreover, the expected €152 billion of investments in wind power by 2020 will avoid €135 billion worth of CO₂ emission costs.
• Energy independence. Europe now imports more than half its energy, a figure that is expected to climb to 70% in the next 20 to 30 years. The wind power capacity installed by the end of 2009 will, in a normal wind year, produce 4.8% of the EU’s electricity. By 2020 wind power will avoid €328 billion in fuel costs.

For more basic information about wind power, please go to these links:

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Factsheets
• Campaign video