Fossil fuel imports in 2012 'cost Europe three times more than Greek bailout'

Europe spent €545 billion on fossil fuel imports in 2012, three times more than the Greek bailout - a report to be published by the European Wind Energy Association also claims that member states spent €406bn on fossil fuels in 2011, rising by over 25% the following year.

The total spend on imported fuels over this period is equal to the combined GDP of the Netherlands and Sweden.     The report, Avoiding fossil fuel costs with wind energy, also details how wind energy is avoiding billions of euro in fossil fuel costs including future expectations for 2020 and 2030.

The report is due to be released on 10 March at the EWEA 2014 Annual Event in Barcelona. The issue of Europe's energy security and exposure to volatile fuel prices is one reason policymakers, CEOs and stakeholders at the event will call for an ambitious 2030 renewable energy target just days before European leaders meet in Brussels to discuss the Commission's proposals.

Throughout the four-day event, major players, policymakers and CEOs in the wind sector will tackle the hard-hitting issues affecting the industry today. The conference will play host to keynote speakers including Portuguese Secretary of State for Energy Artur Trindade, Maria van der Hoeven, executive director of the International Energy Agency and Hans-Dieter Kettwig, conference chair and managing director at ENERCON.

Under the conference's central theme, 'getting back to business', the event will address some of the key issues facing the wind energy sector in 2014 including the European Commission's proposal for 2030 climate and energy targets, finding new growth opportunities and doing business in emerging markets.

When: Monday 10 March - Thursday 13 March 2014. 
Where: Fira de Barcelona Gran Via            
Carrer del Foc 31            
08038 Barcelona, Spain

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