According to the EWEA, the density of wind power per square kilometre is the best means of measuring and comparing the extent to which different countries exploit their wind power potential. Based on this criterion, Denmark leads the way, Germany comes a close second, and the Netherlands third. Spain, in fourth place, has half the wind power density of Germany, while Portugal and Ireland are above the EU average wind power density.
Italy is not far below average, while France and the UK each have less than half of the EU’s average density of wind power capacity. Romania, Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus are floundering at the bottom of the league with next to zero wind power generation per square kilometre.
“Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands are European leaders in fighting climate change with wind-powered electricity” said Christian Kjaer, Chief Executive of the EWEA. “The figures also reveal the huge potential for wind power growth in most countries. Laggards in wind energy – including France, the UK, Sweden, Finland and Eastern European countries – can easily play catch-up,” Kjaer added.
These figures are interesting because they contrast sharply with the league table of installed capacity (at 2008 year end), with Germany as outright leader with 23,900 MW, followed by Spain (16,700 MW), and then Italy and France. Total installed wind capacity in the 27 Member States was 64,900 MW at the end of 2008, 1,471 MW of which was near or offshore.
Wind could meet 19% of EU-27 electricity demand
According to the EWEA, if the eight geographically largest Member States had the same density of wind power capacity per square kilometre as Denmark, they would produce enough wind power to meet 19% of total EU-27 electricity demand and avoid 362 million tonnes of carbon dioxide – equivalent to meeting more than 30% of the EU’s 2020 climate target.
“The future of wind power in Europe lies in offshore as well as onshore wind power, and some of the pioneer countries will add wind power capacity just by repowering existing plants - replacing old smaller turbines with bigger, more powerful ones which are now available on the market” Kjaer said.
The report containing the just-published league table entitled “Pure Power” also outlines the EWEA’s predictions for growth in wind power by 2020. The industry calculates that it can meet up to 16.6% of EU electricity demand by 2020, or 14.1% in a lower, business-as-usual scenario.
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