Wind energy production near Groothusen, Krummhörn, GermanyThe 100 GW of offshore projects already being planned could produce 10 per cent of Europe’s electricity, says a report Oceans of Opportunity by industry lobby organisation European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). According to the report, published in Stockholm at the Offshore Wind 2009 conference, those offshore wind projects could avoid 200 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
The targets are for the Europe's offshore installed wind power capacity to grow to 40 gigawatts by 2020 from 1.9 GW in 2009, and to 150 GW by 2030.
“Europe is faced with the global challenges of climate change, depleting indigenous energy resources, increasing fuel costs and the threat of supply disruption,” the report says. “Offshore wind power provides the answer to Europe’s energy and climate dilemma, exploiting an abundant energy resource which does not emit greenhouse gases, reduces dependence on increasingly costly fuel imports, creates thousands of new jobs and provides large quantities of indigenous affordable electricity.”
On a similar note, Maud Olofsson, Swedish Deputy Prime Minister and President of the EU Energy Ministers Council, said wind power off Europe’s coastline is a resource ready for exploitation and developers are eager to get started.
“Provided governments are ready to play their part,” she said, “we can revolutionise Europe’s energy future.”
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