“Wind power has a unique characteristic: it requires no fuel. Therefore it has zero fuel price risk, zero fuel costs, no external energy dependence and extremely low operation and maintenance costs. Wind is power without fuel. Who can say no to that?”, said Ian Mays, Conference Chairman / Managing Director, RES, UK, at the opening of the EWEC 2006 Conference.

The days of cheap and abundantly available conventional energy are over. At a time of rising energy prices, increasing demand, energy supply insecurity and climate change, it is often overlooked that Europe is the world leader in renewable energy technologies, the most promising and mature of which is wind power. Wealthy in wind energy resources, there is enough wind energy available in Europe to power the entire continent.

• EC Commissioner for the Environment Stavros Dimas said: “Wind is one of the fastest growing European technologies and so far it has already created 200,000 jobs. Promoting renewable energy is essential for our future to preserve the nonrenewable resources of the Earth for the future generations, to increase the security of our energy supplies, to actively fight climate change. Wind energy can positively contribute to these goals”.
• “By the year 2010, 20.1% of Greece’s energy production will come from clean energy. The creation of a new legal framework in combination with the new spatial planning for the installation of Renewable Energy Sources systems in areas with high energy potential paves the way for largescale investment”, said Minister of Development Dimitris Sioufas, Greece. “Greece ranks among the top ten places of the worldwide chart, which classifies countries according to how attractive they are for investments in wind energy. Wind power is a fastgrowing energy sector, which boosts the economy and cares for the environment”.
• “We are at a defining moment in the history of energy supply, and energy is moving to the top of the political agenda”, said Britta Thomsen, MEP, ViceChairwoman of ITRE Committee, European Parliament. “Today 50% of Europe’s energy needs is presently imported and that share is likely to increase to more than 70% within two decades. By 2030, oil imports would rise from 76% to 88% and gas imports from 50% to 81%, compared to 2000. Wind energy, together with other renewable technologies, can provide a significant and secure supply side solution”.
• “Expanding renewables not only benefits the climate, it also strengthens the economy and creates jobs. Renewable energies, energy efficiency and energy saving are the three pillars of a sustainable energy supply. At the EWEC 2006 today I advocate this path, which reduces our dependency on fuel imports and makes our energy supply more secure”, said Michael Müller, Parliamentary State Secretary, Germany.
• “With the installation of a record 6,183 MW in Europe in 2005, wind energy has achieved the European Commission’s 40,000 MW target for 2010, five years ahead of time,” said Prof. Arthouros Zervos, President of EWEA. “Wind power is on course to become an increasing part of Europe’s power mix. By 2010 the world market for wind power is predicted to double to 16 billion Euros per year. EWEA business forecast sees 180GW of wind generating 12% of Europe’s total TWh requirements for 2020, and delivering 37% of all new EU generation capacity”.