Europe - How to further develop wind energy?

The Secretary of the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, accompanied by over 20 high level representatives of Indian wind energy manufacturers, financial and R&D institutions, academia and industry associations, spent 3 days in Brussels and Amsterdam to increase the collaboration between Europe and India. From both sides, there is a strong will to further develop wind energy thanks to joint projects, exchange of best practices and knowledge. Innovative financing mechanisms and technical issues such as grid integration, testing, standardization and certification and R&D issues were at the heart of the 3 day debates.

‘For the last 5 years, India has been the fastest growing wind energy market. We are looking for horizontal cooperation with Europe to continue growing’ said V. Subramanian, Secretary of the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

For the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) - which co-organised the visit together with the Energy Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) and the Confederation of Indian Industry – this meeting was of primary importance to establish close relations with stakeholders in one of the most successful and promising market.

‘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 increase 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 that non-EU markets will grow’ Douglas continued.

The European Commission, who welcomed the Indian delegation on Friday in Brussels, presented the possibilities to further finance European-Indian projects under the 7th framework programme for research; which would be a very concrete manner to continue working together towards a strong international development of wind power.

This mission, organised in the framework of the EU-India Wind Energy Network project, funded by the EU under the EU-India Economic Cross Cultural Programme, is a follow-up of the European mission to India in April 2006. At the Round Table Conference and Workshop that took place in New Delhi, financial issues were extensively analysed and discussed.


Besides presentations on R&D policy and policy research, the programme of the mission in Europe included visits to specific wind projects and facilities and also the presentation of a Financing Handbook prepared by the EU-India Network which highlights critical aspects of wind energy financing in India and Europe and identifies innovative financing mechanisms to meet the need of the highly dynamic wind energy sector. Participants from both sides took the opportunity of this three day meeting to exchange best practices.

The results of the project will be published in various reports:
Financial Handbook, R&D Strategy, Policy analysis and recommendations on government policy and Joint Strategy for collaboration between Indian and European professional Wind Energy Associations.

The presentations and final papers will soon become available on the EU-India Wind Energy Network Project Site: www.euindiawind.net