PES Manifesto

The need for wind power

Published Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 15:12
by Wind Energy in Save our planet (413 views and 0 comments)

The world is facing an energy and climate crisis. Globally, the energy sector emits 26 billion tonnes of CO2 each year and electricity production alone accounts for 41% of emissions. The International Energy Agency expects CO2 emissions in 2030 to have increased by 55% to reach more than 40 billion tonnes of CO2. The share of emissions coming from electricity production will increase to 44% in 2030, reaching 18 billion tonnes of CO2. Europe is going to be importing a growing share of its energy at unpredictable but most likely higher prices, from unstable regions, in ever-fiercer competition with the rest of the world and at staggering environmental cost. Spare electricity generating capacity is at a historic low. Europe has to invest in new capacity to replace ageing plants and meet future demand. In the period 2005-2030, the EU needs to install 862 GW of new electricity generating capacity. 427 GW of generating capacity will be retired in the EU and an additional 435 GW will be needed to satisfy the growing demand for power. The required capacity exceeds the total capacity operating in Europe (723 GW). Satisfying our energy needs over the coming decades will be a big challenge. For a region that currently imports 56% of its energy – and is on track to reach 70% in the next 20 to 30 years – the challenge is big. Our own fossil fuel resources are running out fast, fuel prices are increasing and the environment is suffering as result of our current energy supply structure. In 2030 the EU will be importing 84% of its gas, 59% of its coal and 94% of its oil. Every day, European companies and consumers are paying the price of external control of their energy supply. Europe’s annual gas import bill alone is already €50 billion higher today than when the oil price was $20 per barrel a few years ago. Europe must seize the opportunity created by the large turnover in electricity generating capacity that will take place over the next two decades to secure a truly indigenous clean energy supply based on renewable sources of energy – the only resources that will be left in abundance in the near future. Combined with more ambitious energy efficiency measures, renewable heating and biofuels, it is the only way for Europe to turn the looming energy and climate crisis into an opportunity to benefi t the welfare of our citizens. Europe simply does not have the fossil fuel resources to emerge as a winner in the battle for the world’s remaining and diminishing fuel supplies. But it does have enormously rich renewable energy resources, and European industries are world leaders at turning those resources into energy. There is an opportunity for Europe to take the lead in redefining the rules of the future energy game. It is a game that will be won not by the few countries that control the diminishing fossil fuel resources, but by the regions of the world that understand how to develop, utilise and export technology that can convert their natural renewable resources into energy.

The economic future of Europe can be planned on the basis of known and predictable energy costs, derived from an indigenous wind energy source free from all the security-related, political, economic and environmental disadvantages associated with the current energy supply structure.

By the European Wind Energy Association

Tags: energy, environment, NGO, wind