Wind energy is exciting news for Europe
Tuesday 29 November 2011By Colin Stevens
Arthouros Zervos, President of EWEA, told delegates to EWEA Offshore 2011 conference in Amsterdam today that offshore wind energy is a brand new industry ready to take off.
He said that the industry was ready to be a major industrial player, ready to bring new jobs, and ready to bring investment in a new supply chain. “This is exciting news for Europe!” he said.
He told the conference that growing competition and expansion in the sector means costs will go down. “Offshore wind power will reduce costs like the onshore wind industry did” he said. “Costs will be driven down through growing experience, improved reliability and more efficiency. The opportunity is there. But to seize it action is needed.”
He told delegates that sufficient levels of funding need to be brought into the industry. “We need to help investors to understand the sector, to learn that the risks are predictable. Investors such as the EIB and pension funds have a key role to play”.
He said that a stable, clear, long-term legislative framework for energy investments is needed. “We need a renewable energy target for 2030, higher emission reduction targets for 2020 and beyond, we need a clear roadmap for a fully decarbonised power sector in 2050.”
He went on to say “If the EU and national Governments can deliver, investors will deliver and the industry will deliver. The industry will deliver jobs, exports and emissions-free, European power. European companies will be technological leaders for years to come”.