Europe is facing an energy crisis. We now live in an era of energy uncertainty. The days of cheap and
abundantly available energy are over.
Europe is running out of indigenous energy resources at a time of increased prices, diminishing
resources and their concentration into fewer, more geopolitically sensitive regions, and greater
international competition for energy resources.
At the same time demand for power is increasing, and many power plants will be retired, so combined the total demand for new
electricity generation capacity across Europe is predicted to increase by 760 GW by 2030.
Limiting the effects of climate change requires a reduction in carbon emissions from the power sector. Europe is an energy intensive
region heavily reliant on imports; already today, it imports 50% of its energy needs, projected to increase to 70% within
two decades. By 2030, oil imports would rise from 76% to 88% and gas imports from 50% to 81%, compared to 2000. Indigenous
fossil fuel resources, such as the North Sea oil and gas reserves, are in rapid decline.
Europe’s dependency on imported fossil fuels has become a threat to economic stability because of the impact of increased fuel
prices on the cost base.
Europe is the world leader in renewable energy and in the most promising and mature renewable energy technology, wind
power.
Europe is wealthy in wind energy resources – there is enough resources to power the entire continent. Wind energy has made
rapid progress in recent years - in technology, in costs and in market deployment. Yet its exploitation remains low in Europe.
Wind energy ensures that the economic future of Europe can be planned on the basis of known and
predictable cost of electricity derived from an indigenous energy source free of all the security, political,
economic and environmental disadvantages associated with oil, coal, gas and nuclear.
A prevailing myth is that wind cannot be mainstream because it is intermittent. The capacity of
European power systems to absorb signifi cant amounts of wind power is determined more by
economics and regulatory rules than by technical or practical constraints.
A large contribution from wind energy to European power generation is feasible in the same order of
magnitude as coal, gas or nuclear.
Wind energy is ready to serve as one of the leading solutions for European energy needs – for security
of supply, for energy independence as well as meeting climate goals and rising demand for energy.
