EWEA Publishes Report on Wind Energy in Central and Eastern Europe (Austria)

Wind power in Central and Eastern Europe will become a significant source of electricity production by 2020 and Turkey’s wind power generation capacity will grow even faster – provided there is a stable legal framework in each country.

The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) today published a new report, ‘Eastern Winds’, analysing the emerging wind power markets in Central and Eastern European countries, plus Turkey, Ukraine and Russia. The report was launched at EWEA 2013 – Europe’s premier wind energy event – held this year in Vienna.

“Wind energy in Central and Eastern Europe, including Turkey, will substantially reduce the fossil fuel dependency of the power sectors,” said Christian Kjaer, Chief Executive Officer at EWEA. “But some countries – such as the Czech Republic, Hungary and Bulgaria – are without stable renewable energy legislation, and investors and banks will withdraw unless governments put in place long-term renewable energy policies.”

Twelve newer EU Member States in Central and Eastern Europe plan to increase wind power capacity from the 6.4 gigawatts installed at end of 2012 to 16 gigawatts by 2020. This is equivalent to the electricity supply of 9 million households. Turkey wants to increase wind power capacity from its current 2.3 gigawatts to 20 gigawatts by 2023.

Poland and Romania almost doubled their annual installed wind power capacity in 2012. At the end of 2012, Poland had 2.5 gigawatts, Romania 1.9 gigawatts, and Bulgaria 0.7 gigawatts of wind power capacity installed.

In Poland, the authorities expect 500 MW of installed offshore wind capacity before the end of the decade. The Baltic shipyards such as Gdansk and steel companies have already expanded into the manufacturing business. According to PWEA, such companies could capture a substantial share of the components supply for future offshore installations.

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Press release, February 5, 2013; Image: Alpha Ventus