International premier trade fair WindEnergy 2006 opened by Astrid Klug, Secretary of State for the Environment

A fundamental change in the course of energy policy is needed in view of the conflicts, dependencies and environmental crises, declared Astrid Klug, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Ministry of the Environment, at the opening today of the WindEnergy 2006 - International Trade Fair in Hamburg. She underscored the importance of the rapidly developing wind industry. Increased use of renewables, and in particular wind energy, gives us a chance to counter steer actively. She added that the WindEnergy 2006 showed the worldwide innovations and investments for the wind industry for global environmental protection, international energy savings and energy efficiency. She expressed her conviction that this international fair would generate further stimuli for this emerging industry. The trade fair continues until Friday, with 330 exhibitors from 26 nations showcasing their products and services at the Hamburg Fair site.

And the State Secretary went on to underscore the stable political framework conditions in Germany, emphasizing that the strong machinery and plant engineering sector in Germany rightly had a pioneering role to play in the use of wind energy worldwide. She referred in this context to the export quota of more than 60%. But at the same time she pointed out further opportunities for optimisation of the wind industry: “there was a need for further improvement in grid integration, accelerated grid expansion, and a reduction in the obstacles in approval processes for offshore turbines. She promised that the Federal Government would improve the framework conditions for repowering.

Prof. Arthouros Zervos, President of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), described wind energy as the fastest growing energy source worldwide, and thus as an internationally successful industry. With 85,000 wind turbines worldwide, an annual growth rate of some 25% and more than 150,000 jobs, wind industry is one of the great industries of the future. At the same time, the EWEA President called upon the European Union to create the framework conditions for further support of stable technological development, cost reduction and investment in research and development. The EWEA is the official cooperation partner of this leading international fair.

Karl Kellner of the EU Commission in Brussels (Directorate General for Energy and Transport) welcomed the high level of fair participation at the WindEnergy 2006. He said he felt this was a clear signal of the growing importance of wind industry and its development as an energy source for the future. In view of the increase in electricity and energy prices and dependence on imports from uncertain regions of the world, he declared that the expansion of renewables was of key importance for the future, adding that the development of new domestic energy sources is one of the few possibilities we have to secure the energy supplies for the countries of Europe. He highlighted the key role to be played by offshore wind energy, this is where the potentials for the future lie.

Kathleen A. McGinty, Secretary for the Environment of the US State of Pennsylvania, reported on the boom wind energy market in the USA. She underlined the leading role played by Pennsylvania in the deployment of renewables, and in particular in wind energy. “In the past few months we have created the political framework conditions and taken the financial steps needed to follow in the footsteps of the leading wind market, that is Europe.” The State of Pennsylvania plans to increase its newly installed output to more than 3800 MW by 2020 and Secretary McGinty invited companies exhibiting at the WindEnergy 2006 to invest in wind projects in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Michael Freytag, Environment Senator in Hamburg, declared in his words of welcome to participants that the WindEnergy 2006 and the tremendous response that it generates were a clear sign that Hamburg provided the best conditions as a location for the international wind industry. He noted that Hamburg provided outstanding conditions for innovative companies, in view of the increasing orientation of the wind industry towards foreign and offshore business, due to its leading position as a centre of foreign trade and of maritime logistics.

The fair takes place in the Halls A1 to A3 of New Hamburg Trade Fair, with 330 exhibitors from 26 nations on a total of 23,000 square metres. There are some 47% foreign companies and associations. This leading international trade fair for the wind industry, which has been held by Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH at intervals of two years since 2002, gives exhibitors and trade visitors an ideal forum for expansion of their activities in Germany and abroad. The trade fair reflects the entire value chain of the industry, leading manufacturers of wind turbines and equipment suppliers present their technical innovations for use onshore and offshore, and project developers showcase their projects. There are national pavilions for the United States, Canada, Spain, the UK, Denmark and Sweden.

The supporting conference programme dialog@WindEnergy with national presentations, panel discussions and exhibitor workshops provides comprehensive information. The core subjects of the WindEnergy 2006 are export, offshore and finance. The international partners of the trade fair are the EWEA, VDMA, DEWI, and further wind energy associations in China, Japan, India, the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom, so that it covers the major export markets worldwide. The main sponsor is Vattenfall Europe. The WindEnergy is open daily from 10am to 6pm from 16 to 19 May (Friday until 4pm). The admission charges (incl. catalogue): season ticket EUR40; day ticket EUR23; students and trainees/apprentices EUR10. For further information visit the website: www.windenergy.de