Energy roundup

In its latest report entitled Pure Power: Wind Energy Scenarios up to 2030, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) outlines the road towards large-scale wind energy. Presenting three development scenarios for 2010, 2020 and 2030, the report examines in detail the probable impact on electricity, greenhouse gas emissions and the EU economy. It confirms the positive prospects of a technology that last year became the leader in terms of net power capacity additions in the EU. Wind power’s share of new generating capacity is forecasted to be 34 percent in the period 2005-2020 and 46 percent in the decade leading up to 2030. Wind power’s share of new capacity in Europe in the 25-year period 2005-2030 is 39 percent.

Wind industry targets for the EU27 in 2020

• 180GW installed capacity, including 35GW offshore
• Annual installations of 16.8GW, including 6.8GW offshore
• Electricity production of 477TWh, including 133TWh offshore
• Meeting between 11.6% and 14.3% of total EU electricity demand
• 18.1% of total installed electricity generating capacity in the EU
• 32% of total new electricity generating capacity installed (2011-2020)
•  Providing power equivalent to the needs of 107 million (49%) average EU households
• Avoiding 328Mt of CO2 – equivalent to taking 165 million cars off the road
• Total wind power investments of €120 billion (2011-2020)

Source: EWEA

Energy sustainability project in Italy
A pilot under the strategy umbrella of the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, giving new energy to Italian cities and citizens raises awareness about energy sustainability among local authorities and their communities in Italy. More than 30 Italian capital cities are ready to take part in actions to share knowledge and implement actions in this field. The project also aims to spread and share best practices of Italian and other European cities and to co-ordinate actions of sensitisation of citizens about energy efficiency and energy saving issues. Italian mayors and local officers will be the main beneficiary of the project to improve their management capacities in the fields of energy, environment and urban mobility. Citizens will be targeted as part of the local campaigns, in order to improve awareness and behaviour.

Top 10 countries producing Bioethanol energy
The EU is working to reduce the effects of climate change and establish a common energy policy. By 2020 renewable energy should account for 20 percent of the EU’s final energy consumption. A study was conducted by EBIO about bioethanol production in the European Union (all figures are in million litres)

• Germany 431
• Spain 402
• France 250
• Sweden 140
• Italy 128
• Poland 120
• Hungary 34
• Lithuania 18
• Netherlands 15
• Czech Republic 15

Dates for the diary

• 27-29 May – World Bioenergy Conference and Exhibition, Jönköping, Sweden
• 2-6 June – 16th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Valencia, Spain
• 4-5 June – Biofuels International Expo and Conference, Rotterdam, Netherlands
• 27 June – CDM Projects and Carbon Credits Event, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• 30 June- 4 July – European Fuel Cell Forum, Lucerne, Switzerland
• 20-23 August – Wind-Powered Vehicles: Racing Aeolus, Den Helder, Netherlands
• 9-12 October – RENEXPO 2008, Augsburg, Germany
• 15-16 October – Fourth International Gas Turbine Conference, Brussels, Belgium

Energy production from renewable sources
Primary energy production from renewable energy sources, breakdown by individual source

Biomass and waste 67.8%
Hydro 22%
Wind 5.1%
Geothermal 4.5%
Solar 0.7%

Further breakdown - within Biomass and waste segment

Wood 52.2%
Municipal solid waste 8.2%
Biofuels 3.8%
Biogas 3.6%

Source: Eurostat