EU leading the world in wind-power generated energy

The EU is showing it has an independent vision on solving climatological and energy problems. This was already apparent at last years climate conference in Buenos Aires, when the Europeans suggested to make firm commitments on CO2 emissions, but it can also be seen in the love of Europeans for wind-power generated energy. At the end of 2003 there was a world-wide wind power energy installed capacity of 39 GW (39.000 mw), of which 73% was generated in the EU.

The global wind power industry installed 7,976 megawatts (MW) in 2004, an increase in total installed generating capacity of 20%, according to figures released by the Global Wind Energy Council - GWEC. Global wind power capacity has grown to 47,317MW. The individual countries with the highest total installed wind power capacity are Germany (16,629 MW), Spain (8,263 MW), the United States (6,740 MW), Denmark (3,117 MW) and India (3,000 MW).

The European Wind Energy Association expects that by 2012 the wind-powered energy capacity will have quadrupled. Most of the growth is expected in European offshore - wind energy parks. The capacity from that source, which was only 600 mw at the end of 2003 , is expected to grow to some 10.000 mw by 2010.