“For the last five years, India has been the fastest growing wind energy market,” Subramanian told his hosts. “We are looking for horizontal cooperation with Europe to continue growing.”

For EWEA, which planned the programme together with the Energy Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) and the Confederation of Indian Industry, the visit was of primary importance in establishing closer relations with stakeholders in one of the most successful and promising wind markets. Organised in the framework of the EU-India Wind Energy Network project and funded through the EU-India Economic Cross Cultural Programme, this was a follow-up to the European mission to India in April 2006. The main topics discussed during the three days were innovative financing mechanisms, technical issues such as grid integration, testing, standardisation and certification, and R&D issues.

“Most of the large European wind energy companies, both manufacturers and developers, have a strong interest in the Indian market and this mission has contributed to increasing the links’, said Bruce Douglas, EWEA Chief Operating Officer. “Many of our member companies are already present in India and many of them have expansion plans for the coming years, following the general trend of growth in non-EU markets.”

As well as presentations on R&D and policy issues, the Indian delegation’s programme included visits to specific wind projects and facilities. In Brussels, the delegation heard from the European Commission about the possibility of further finance for European-Indian projects under the 7th framework research programme. There was also a presentation of the Financing Handbook prepared by the EU-India Network; this highlights critical aspects of wind energy financing in India and Europe and identifies innovative mechanisms to meet the needs of the highly dynamic sector.

The results of the Network’s activities, including the Financing Handbook, R&D strategy, policy analysis, recommendations on government policy and strategies for collaboration between Indian and European professional wind organisations, will be available soon on the EUIWEN web site: www.euindiawind.net