Last year saw 10.163 GW of new wind power capacity 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.
‘What is encouraging is that, unlike in 2009, the 2010 results consist of orders placed after the start of the financial crisis,’ says Christian Kjaer, CEO of EWEA. ‘This shows continued and strong investor confidence in the technology.’
According to EWEA, 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.
EWEA expects France and Italy to again install around 1 GW each this year. 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.
EWEA's announcement was timed to coincide with Global Wind Day, which is being observed today. Over 198 events will take place in at least 26 countries.
SOURCE: European Wind Energy Association
