European Offshore Wind 2009 Conference opened on Monday in the Stockholm International Fair Center with about 3000 people from European countries as well as Asia and North America participating.
The conference will examine how the development of offshore wind energy is progressing and present practical steps forward to decision makers at EU, national, regional and local levels and emphasize the importance of grid integration, industrial development and environmental and administrative cooperation.
Maud Olofsson, Swedish Deputy Prime Minister and President of the EU Energy Ministers Council, stressed the importance of developing wind power.
"We are facing the financial and economic crisis. We need to create jobs. And we decided that our strategy is to develop eco-efficient economy. 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 revolutionize Europe's energy future."
Andreas Nauen, CEO of the Siemens Wind Power Business Unit and the European Offshore Wind 2009 Conference Chair said that Siemens invested one third of its investment in wind power.
"We have moved from vision to market and the industry is ready to deliver. The potential is almost unlimited and offshore wind farms are a major contributor for reducing CO2 emissions. To put this in perspective, 8 offshore wind zones with an area of 100 square kilometer could produce 3200 TWh of green power-enough energy to power all of Europe. This industry really can make a difference."
Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Energy said each of the 23 conference sessions will focus on a different aspect of the development of offshore wind: the latest technological advances and technical research; the financial, supply-related and political requirements of rapid, large scale deployment; and the regulatory and administrative barriers which must be overcome.
Delegates mostly come from European wind power companies with Germany and Sweden taking the lead.
Sinovel Wind Co ltd, China's largest wind turbine producer is among the few coming from outside Europe.
Hans van Steen, Head of Unit, Regulatory Policy and Promotion of Renewable Energy,
Directorate General for Energy and Transport (DG TREN) of European Commission
said that wind ensures that an increasing amount of electricity is produced without using fossil fuels, without using precious fresh water for cooling purposes, and
without emitting greenhouse gases or harmful air pollutants.
Arthouros Zervos, President of European Wind Energy Association said by the end of 2007, the EU-27 had in excess of 56,000 MW of capacity which met 3.7 per cent of total EU electricity demand, provided power equivalent to the needs of 30 million average European households and avoided 91 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, there were billions of euros saved on imported fuel costs in 2007, while more than €11 billion was invested in installing wind turbines in Europe.
A report titled Oceans of Opportunity says that plans for offshore wind projects can provide 10% of European electricity by 2020.
The EU has set a binding target of 20 per cent of its energy supply to come from wind and other renewable resources by 2020. To meet this target, more than one-third of European electrical demand will need to come from renewables, and wind power is expected to deliver 12 to 14 per cent (180 GW) of the total demand.
During the three day conference, a large exhibition of wind power equipments, spare parts, components and technologies are underway.
With 4,000m2 of stand space, the exhibition at European Offshore Wind 2009 has doubled in size since the previous event in 2007.
Exhibition visitors will be able to meet over 260 of the key players in offshore wind power from Europe, North America and Asia – the world's foremost manufacturers, developers, engineering and construction companies, power generators and utilities.
By Xuefei Chen, People's Daily Online, Stockholm.
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article