More new wind power capacity was installed in the European Union (EU) in 2009 than any other electricity-generating technology, according to new statistics published by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).
Thirty-nine percent of all new capacity installed in 2009 was wind power, followed by gas (26%) and solar photovoltaics (16%). Europe decommissioned more coal and nuclear capacity than it installed in 2009. Taken together, renewable energy technologies account for 61% of new power generating capacity in 2009, according to EWEA.
‘The figures, once again, confirm that wind power, together with other renewable energy technologies, and a shift from coal to gas, are delivering massive European carbon reductions, while creating much-needed economic activity and new jobs for Europe's citizens,’ says Christian Kjaer, CEO of EWEA.
Investment in new European wind farms in 2009 reached 13 billion euros, including 1.5 billion euros for offshore projects. Over 10,000 MW of wind power capacity was installed across the EU – a 23% increase compared to 2008 installations.
2009 is the second year running that more wind power capacity has been installed than any other electricity-generating technology, and wind's share of newly installed capacity increased from 35% in 2008 to 39% in 2009. It is also the second year running that renewable energies have accounted for the majority of new investments, EWEA says.
The countries with the biggest share of new capacity installed in 2009 were Spain (24% – 2,459 MW), followed by Germany (19% – 1,917 MW), Italy (11% – 1,114 MW), France (11% – 1,088 MW) and the U.K. (10% – 1,077 MW).
SOURCE: European Wind Energy Association
