The wind industry will be the main pillar of the global energy industry in Europe and in the US

Athens, 1st March 2006 --- "The world needs solution from us", agreed top industry CEOs attending the 2006 European Wind Energy Conference (EWEC) in Athens. The rapidly-changing energy supply scene has opened new perspectives and new markets for the global wind energy industry, according to the leading wind industry manufacturers and developers:

Esteban Morrás Andrés - CEO, Acciona, Spain

Thomas Richterich - CEO, Nordex AG, Germany

Fritz Vahrenholt - CEO, REpower Systems AG, Germany

Per Hornung Pedersen - CEO, Suzlon Energy, India

Ditlev Engel - CEO, Vestas, Denmark

In a dedicated pannel, the wind industry CEOs shared their view on the state of the wind energy market at the end of 2005; the globalisation of the wind industry and the development of new technologies.

*"In our sector, many things are happening. 2005 was the year of a structural crisis in the conventional energy system. Around the world, countries are worried about the availability of energy resources in the future', said Esteban Morrás Andrés - CEO, Acciona, Spain. "Wind energy is the most significant solution to overcome today's energy crisis."

* "Last year, the wind industry saw a rapid development of new wind energy markets - such as France, Portugal and Italy - and heavy increase on market demands also in the US, India and China", said Thomas Richterich, CEO, Nordex AG, Germany. "70% of the capacity currently installed is in Europe, but in the next three years we expect to see the focus shift to Asia and the US".

* "The wind industry is becoming more global and more professional, we are switching gear as we enter into a more mature era", said Per Hornung Pedersen - CEO, Suzlon Energy, India."

* "The wind industry will be the main pillar of the global energy industry in Europe, and also in the US", said Fritz Vahrenholt - CEO, REpower Systems AG, Germany.

* "As future developments on the technology front, Vestas believes in the potential of offshore wind and we will be there to meet the challenge", said Ditlev Engel - CEO, Vestas, Denmark.

Notes to editors:

(1) EWEC 2006 - European Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition - hosts over 500 oral and poster presentations, 150 companies exhibiting and over 2100 attendees.