Wind Energy in Europe

< Sustainable energy

Industry statistics released February 1, 2006, for the EU wind energy market, show that cumulative wind power capacity increased by 18% to 40,504 MW (megawatt) at the end of 2005, up from 34,372 MW at the end of 2004.

The European Commission White Paper, published in 1997, set a target for wind power of 40,000 GW in EU-15 by 2010, which has now (end of 2005) been surpassed.

The top five European wind energy markets in 2005 were
 * 1) Germany (1,808 MW)
 * 2) Spain (1,764 MW)
 * 3) Portugal (500 MW)
 * 4) Italy (452 MW)
 * 5) UK (446 MW).

Reference
 * European Wind Energy Association press release, 1st February 2006