Can you imagine standing in the nacelle of a turbine, 50 metres above a sparkling sea, being buffeted by the wind?
Even for some of those who work in the sector, climbing a wind turbine is a rare and exciting privilege. On Saturday I was lucky enough to do just that for the first time in Denmark, alongside the winners of EWEA’s ‘Breath of Fresh Air – Adopt a Turbine’ competition.
17 year old Lien Van Hout from Belgium got the most votes for the turbine she adopted, and she took her brother along to Copenhagen to enjoy her prize – visits to an onshore and an offshore farm. EWEA’s Campaigns Officer Elke Zander, who organised the competition, accompanied them and I went along for the onshore visit.
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In less than a quarter of the lifetime of a fossil fuel power plant, Europe’s progressive energy policies that have done so much to promote wind power and other renewable energies will run out.
This looming energy policy vacuum will be the focus of top level discussions at Europe’s largest wind power conference and exhibition. Hosted by the European Wind Energy Association, the conference and exhibition held in Brussels from 14-17 March will feature 200 top speakers, live debates, high-quality sessions covering a variety of topics and 300 specialist presentations.
More than 7,000 visitors and over 400 exhibitors are expected at the event, which is spread out over 13,000 square metres, making it EWEA’s largest exhibition ever. continue reading »
In a joint declaration released today in Brussels, six European energy industry CEOs called on the EU to adopt a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of at least 25% by 2020.
“We urge European leaders to move beyond the 20% economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions reduction target by 2020,” the declaration said. “This would contribute to a healthy and market driven EU investment climate for sustainable energy and put Europe back in the driving seat in the transition to a prosperous, low-carbon Europe.”
The signed declaration noted that recent international climate change negotiations didn’t have the result many had hoped for and which science indicates is required. It also noted that the focus on effective climate change policies and their importance for the EU’s energy system seems to have lost momentum. continue reading »
Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populated nation, is about to begin developing wind power, an energy official said on Monday.
The country’s first large-scale wind power plant will be built in Sukabumi, West Java, later this year this with a total capacity of 30 megawatts, according to a news report in The Jakarta Post.
The story noted PLN renewable energy division head Muhammad Sofyan, said that the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry had approved the project and local energy firm Viron Energy was waiting for the ministry to issue an official permit to begin construction. continue reading »
I want you to imagine for a minute you are walking on top of a cliff overlooking the North Sea. The wind is so strong you can lean your whole body into it. Below, almighty waves, swept up in the gale, are crashing onto the rocks.
Now imagine you are in Spain, or perhaps Italy or Portugal. The sun is soaking into your skin. The sky dazzles with the intense southern light that bounces glaringly off buildings and cars.
With such immense renewable sources of power to hand, it seems incredible that Europe is still having to fork out for fossil fuel imports. It is as though a farmer with a huge and fertile orchard were forced to pay an unreliable neighbour for fruit while his own rot in his back garden. continue reading »
