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- Category: View from Inside
Wind energy – Polish progress and plans
Following a general amendment of its Energy Law, which enables producers of renewable energy to receive income for both the electricity itself and from selling certificates of origin (a type of ‘green certificate’), Poland has entered a path towards development of renewable energy sources. Wind power must play a key role in this process. No other source is capable of ensuring fulfillment of Poland’s commitment to reach a 9% share of energy from renewable sources in the total produced energy balance. This commitment means that at least 400MW of new installed power should be commissioned in Poland every year. Alas, 2006 will not see such a success (only approximately 150MW will be commissioned); however, the following years should bring actual expansion of the sector (development progress of projects I am aware of guarantees achieving the level of 400MW per annum in 2007). By Jaroslaw Mroczek, President of Polish Wind Energy Association
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- Category: View from Inside
Wind – Infinite Energy
As our quality of life improves, consumption of energy is bound to increase. Most of mankind’s energy needs are obtained from exhaustible fossil fuels. Apart from the adverse effect on climate, use of fossil fuels for production of energy is a crime against future generations. By burning fossil fuels for energy generation, we are violating the fundamental principles of economics. The very definition of economics taught to us is ‘Economics is a science which deals with ends and scarce means which have alternative uses’. The scarce fossil fuels have far better alternative uses than burning for energy. A kilogram of oil can produce far more valuable petrochemicals than the electrical energy it would produce.By Dr Kane, President, World Wind Energy Association
- Category: View from Inside
Wind Power: Becoming a Major Player?
The US wind energy industry is celebrating one record-breaking year after another. Wind farms are being installed in the vast American heartland as quickly as the industry can produce turbines. How fast is wind power likely to grow in the USA over the next few decades? What will it take for wind to eventually provide 20% of the nation’s electricity, as envisioned by President Bush?By Randall Swisher, Executive , American Wind Energy Association
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- Category: View from Inside
Worldwide Wind Energy Boom Continues in 2005
Wind energy has reached a status almost nobody in the conventional energy sector would have expected only ten or even five years ago: 2005 was another record year and on 31 December 2005, 58,982MW were installed worldwide, equalling an increase by 24% or 11,310MW in 2005, after 8.3GW in 2004. Thus, wind energy is the most dynamically growing energy source worldwide. Wind energy already delivers around 1% of global electricity generation, with some countries and regions reaching 20% and more.By Stefan Gsänger, Secretary General, World Wind Energy Association
- Category: View from Inside
Aviation Warning Lights for Wind Turbines
The future requirements for aviation warning lights for wind turbines should be determined on an international level, taking into account the environment and the safety of all stakeholders in the wind turbine industry. The different organisations involved have started to pay more attention to the issue, and we trust that the wind turbine industry will soon benefit from a specific norm.By Matthieu Scheffers, Orga BV
- Category: View from Inside
The European Energy Challenge
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 in the form of fossil fuels at a time when a paradigm shift in energy prices is occurring. It is clear that this century will be characterised by intensified competition for energy, which will inevitably push up prices, lead to periodic scarcity and precipitate a scramble for reserves among the world’s main economic blocks.By Corin Millais, EWEA CEO
