European Union Beats Expectations, Grows Wind Power Capacity in 2009

The European Union installed more new wind power capacity in 2009 than any other electricity-generating technology, according to a new analysis by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).  Fully 39% of all new capacity installed last year in the EU was wind power, followed by gas (26%) and solar photovoltaics (16%).  All told, renewable energy technologies accounted for 61% of new power generating capacity in Europe in 2009. 

It was also clearly an ‘out with the old, in with the new’ year, as Europe decommissioned more coal and nuclear capacity than it installed in 2009.  The coal power sector decommissioned 3,200 megawatts of capacity in 2009, while the nuclear sector cut 1,393 megawatts.

The European Union’s total wind capacity has now reached 74,767 MW, with the potential to produce 163 TWh of electricity, meeting 4.8% of total EU power demand.

10,163 MW of wind power capacity was installed across the European Union – a 23% increase compared to 2008 installations – made up of 9,581 MW onshore (up 21% from last year) and 582 MW offshore (up 56% from last year).

These results shattered the pessimistic outlook proffered by industry analysts early in 2009, who predicted that Europe would add only 7,836 megawatts of wind power, a projected decline of 18% for the year.  The results also beat out EWEA's own projections that only 8,600 Megawatts (MW) of new wind energy capacity would be installed in the European Union countries during 2009.

Financing woes that were expected to set the industry back turned out to be much ado about nothing, as €13 billion ($18 billion) in investments were pumped into new European wind farms in 2009, including €1.5 billion ($2 billion) offshore.

This was the second year in a row that Europe installed more wind power capacity than any other electricity-generating technology, and also the second year running that renewable energies have accounted for the majority of new investments.  Germany held onto its lead role as the EU country with the largest installed capacity, followed by Spain, Italy, France and the UK.

“It is a remarkable result in a difficult year” said Christian Kjaer, CEO of EWEA. “The figures, once again, confirm that wind power, together with other renewable energy technologies and a shift from coal to gas, are delivering massive European carbon reductions, while creating much needed economic activity and new jobs for Europe’s citizens.”

Looking ahead to 2010, Kjaer added: “I am quite optimistic about the medium-term outlook for wind power in Europe, but project finance is still tight and it is clear that more orders must be announced in the coming months for the sector to repeat the 10 GW installed this year.”

The EWEA analysis is available at the association's website.