WIND WILL BOOM IN EUROPE

The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) praised newly announced rules governing Phase 3 of the EU’s emissions-reduction and climate change-reversing program. EWEA called for early approval and implementation.

Singled out were proposals for grid infrastructure development and new regulations allowing priority grid access to New Energy. EWEA described these as especially meaningful for New Energy growth.

The EU is rich in wind resources. (click to enlarge)

With this new blueprint for a boom in European New Energy and the U.S. Congress stonewalling on extending New Energy production tax credits (PTCs) and investment tax credits (ITCs), it is looking very much like the EU will be the center of energy innovation and power in the 21st Century.

New Energy and Climate Package for Europe: The European Commission Leads the Way Towards a Massive Expansion of Wind Power
January 23, 2008 (European Wind Energy Association via Yahoo Finance)

WHO
European Commission (EC), executive board to the European Union (EU), EU Council of Ministers, European Parliament; European Wind Energy Association(EWEA), Christian Kjaer, CEO

The EU is even richer in offshore wind resources. North Sea wind has been compared to the riches of North Sea oil. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
EWEA welcomed the EC’s proposed rules changes for Phase 3 of the Kyoto Protocols-based climate change framework that governs energy development and emissions trading in the EU. The basic new goal is to obtain 20% of EU power from New Energy sources and to cut emissions 20% by 2020.

WHEN
- Phase 3 will begin in 2013 and run through 2013.
- The EC proposals must be approved by the Council and the Parliament. The EC the new proposals will be ratified by 2009.

Like the EU itself, the continent's grid has been evolving. (click to enlarge)

WHERE
The 27 member states of the European Union are bound by EC-developed rules approved by the Council and the Parliament.

WHY
- An important stipulation governs voluntary cross-border trading of energy supplies. States can only sell energy to other states after they have met or exceeded their own targets and investment must include funding for planning procedures and grid infrastructure.
- Another stipulation is aimed at clearing up administrational complications and grid access issues.

Now it must integrate and develop its 3 major sectors. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
Christian Kjaer, CEO, EWEA: "The European Commission has today provided a powerful response to the imminent energy and climate crisis. By introducing a voluntary trading mechanism, controlled by Member States, the proposal maintains market stability, increases investor confidence and will help Member States to reach their ambitious, yet achievable, targets…The target implies that renewable energy's share of electricity will increase from 15% today to more than a third of Europe's demand in 2020. Wind energy will be the biggest contributor to that massive increase in clean electricity production…"