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Wind Could Power Europe Many Times Over

June 16, 2009 | 7 Comments

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Brussels, Belgium [RenewableEnergyWorld.com] A new report from the European Environment Agency has concluded that wind power's potential in 2020 is as much as three times greater than Europe's expected electricity demand, rising to a factor of up to seven times demand by 2030.

"The EEA clearly recognizes that wind power will be key to Europe's energy future. Now that oil prices are again on the rise, the EEA report sends a reminder to Europe's policy makers that wind power is a clean and proven energy technology and Europe is the world leader," Christian Kjaer, EWEA CEO.

This study confirms that wind energy can play a major role in achieving the European renewable energy targets and that the extent of wind energy resources in Europe is very considerable. The report, ‘Europe's onshore and offshore wind energy potential,' highlights that the wind energy potential is huge, equivalent to almost 20 times energy demand in 2020. Onshore wind energy potential is concentrated in agricultural and industrial areas of north-western Europe. Likewise, the largest offshore potential can be found in low depth areas in the North Sea, the Baltic Seas and the Atlantic Ocean, with some local opportunities in areas of the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

The deep offshore potential is even larger but costs mean that it is unlikely to contribute in any significant way to the energy mix within the time horizon of the study. Using only 4 % of the offshore area within 10 km from the coast and accounting for the restrictions imposed by shipping lane, gas and oil platforms, military areas, reduces the potential by more than 90 % to 2800 TWh in 2020 and 3500 TWh in 2030.

When production costs are compared to baseline average electricity generation costs, the onshore potential for wind decreases to 9600 TWh in 2020, whereas offshore wind potential decreases to 2600 TWh. Despite being a small proportion of the total technical potential, the economically competitive wind energy potential still amounts to more than three times projected demand in 2020.

However, high penetration levels of wind power will require major changes to the grid system at higher penetration levels, with additional extensions or upgrades both for the transmission and the distribution grid possibly required to avoid congestion.

The conclusions were welcomed by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), with CEO Christian Kjaer observing: “The EEA clearly recognizes that wind power will be key to Europe's energy future. Now that oil prices are again on the rise, the EEA report sends a reminder to Europe's policy makers that wind power is a clean and proven energy technology and Europe is the world leader."

The EEA report can be found here

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Wind Power

7 Reader Comments

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christopher-lee-166032

June 19, 2009

It seems more optimistic than before, but what would happen if a Great Calm were to fall on the continent one day?

Distribution: it's important to work also on systems that are embedded in local networks, including at the level of individual dwellings. Among relatively neglected options, cogeneration with gas central heating has the obvious advantage in cold regions of providing most power when it's most needed. Also, there's no special building or installation work. This idea seems to be stalled, possibly for lack of a suitable gas engine and for reasons linked to the structure of the industry.

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Tomasz-Rubanowicz-165923

June 19, 2009

'The EEA clearly recognizes that wind power will be key to Europe's energy future (...)'

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mike-holly-17241

June 19, 2009

Electric Power & Light states:

"If wind is a small part of generation, its intermittency brings few operating problems ... When it reaches approximately 10 to 15 percent of power production, the added costs of units that must run to ensure reliability can become substantial. ..... As advocates claim, wind produces nearly 20 percent of Denmark's total generation. Fortunately, that nation is a small part of a much larger, centrally dispatched Scandinavian system largely based on hydroelectric and nuclear facilities. Denmark's wind units produce less than 3 percent of the region's power. Load and generation characteristics force the nation to export nearly half of its wind power, often at zero prices, and to pay premia to fill in any shortfalls. According to NUS Consulting Group, in 2007 the average cost of energy production in the U.S. was approximately 9.5 cents per kWh, and in largely nuclear France, it was just more than 8 cents. In Denmark, it was 23 cents."

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mike-holly-17241

June 19, 2009

This report confirms that, alongside other renewable sources such as biomass, wind energy can play a major role in achieving Europe's renewable energy targets. Why does America do mainly only wind and a little solar and no reliable base-load renewables like biomass, geothermal and hydroelectric? Because the US is either corrupt or stupid!

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paul-brooks-176008

June 22, 2009

Wind is a very important commodity and one which continues when gas and oil have run out. Wind with other renewables gives political stability to a countries energy requirements. The major development needed now is in storage systems for wind energy, this results in even loading when required.
Above all Renewable Energy at the most local level is the major way forward,as transmission losses from coal input to socket outlet are 80%?
Gas perhaps 70%? All domestic buildings should be self sufficient and small commercial also. Local systems are 95% efficient!
Wind plus solar plus bio-fuel should be mandatory at local build level.
Imagine the local employment and effect on GDP!

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lloyd-weaver-156374

June 26, 2009

Regards to comment 4, we are not stupid, it's just that the right biomass business model and tech doesn't exist yet to make a lot of money.

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jonathan-chance-166185

December 11, 2009

By issuing appropriately valued Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) directly to individual citizens, most if not all nations can become productive exporters of cost-effective renewable energy in a genuine free and fair market.

Who needs NATO and world banksters exporting (and importing) terrorism, pollution and poverty if legitimate governments can issue their own usury-free currency?

JPChance.wordpress.com

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