Europe - EWEA predicts strong year for wind turbine installations in Europe

The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) expects 10 GW of new wind power capacity to be installed in the EU in 2010, taking total installed capacity by the end of 2010 to almost 85 GW, an increase of 13%.

2009 was a record year when 10.163 GW of new wind power capacity was installed, constituting 39% of all new power capacity installed in the EU that year. Total installed wind power capacity by the end of 2009 was 74.767 GW.

France and Italy are expected to again install around 1 GW each in 2010 and the expected decline in installations in Spain will be more than compensated for by a doubling of installations in the new member states led by Romania and Bulgaria and significant growth in the U.K., particularly offshore.

Germany is expected to be the largest market this year, closely followed by the U.K.

2010 will see more installations in offshore wind power, with up to 1 GW of new capacity expected to be installed during the year compared to 577 MW installed in 2009.

However, EWEA is optimistic that unlike in 2009, the 2010 results consist of orders placed after the start of the financial crisis.

It is too early to say whether, for a third year running, there will be more wind energy capacity installed than any other electricity generating technology, but it is clear that wind energy will be competing for the top spot with new gas power plants, said Christian Kjaer, CEO of EWEA.

For more information please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net