A "wind power revolution" is sweeping across North West Europe, reports a leading Dutch energy magazine, and one that could see power capacity equivalent to two and a half Keystone XL pipelines in place by 2020.
"This phenomenal growth," reads a recent European Energy Review (EER) profile, "is mainly due to huge investments in offshore wind power planned by the EU’s three largest economies – the UK, Germany and France."
Europe's offshore wind farms created 3,000 megawatts of power capacity in 2010. That figure will grow to 40,000 megawatts over the next eight years, the European Wind Energy Association predicts.
To put that in perspective, TransCanada's fiercely debated Keystone XL pipeline would create roughly 16,000 megawatts worth of power, according to University of Waterloo professor Jatin Nathwani.
"Offshore wind is only seven, eight years old," Dong Energy CEO Anders Eldrup told EER. "That means there still is a lot of potential."
Big challenges remain. A right-wing government in the Netherlands has cut off funding for offshore wind projects, and daunting costs provide fuel for anti-wind critics across the continent.
But "Germany and France show no signs of wavering," EER reports, and the UK government talks about installing wind capacity far beyond European Wind Energy Association predictions.
The Canadian government, meanwhile, continues to lobby against the European Union's proposed clean fuel legislation, a law officially recognizing that Alberta's oil sands have a high carbon footprint.
"It's discriminatory, it's unfair and it's not based on science," federal natural resources minister Joe Oliver told CTV, shortly after writing a complaint to the European Commission.
The Tyee reported last week on former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell's lead role in this pro-oil sands lobbying campaign.
Geoff Dembicki reports on climate and energy issues for The Tyee.
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Francis
30 weeks ago
Daunting Costs
I was recently in Europe and was reading some of the debate in the FT. Duanting costs are certainly the issue. Predictions are that energy costs will rise 100% in the coming 15 years. Thus putting a crimp on the EU economy.
Sask Resident
30 weeks ago
Wind is variable and not dependable
The Keystone XL pipeline would create roughly 16,000 megawatts worth of power on a continuous, responsive rate while wind will only be available when the wind is blowing and not when electricity is demanded. Assume maybe 25% of the time. Keystone will also provide fuel for vehicles, power plants and chemicals. Plus, the Keystone isn't being subsidized by money that could be doing doing good instead propping up 300 year old technology. Maybe Europe should bring back horses for green transport as well.
seth
30 weeks ago
Wind not viable
The cost of wind power today starts at 12 cents a kwh and is increasing slowly each year.
Offshore Cape Wind needs 23 cents a kwh rising to 34 cents. Ontario is handing out 19 cents.
Here's PGE's the latest $15B/Gw (20 cents a kwh at PGE's discount rate) wind farm build.
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/12/pg-e-to-purchase-operate-246-mw-manzana-wind-project
Now add 8 cents a kwh for 5 times sized transmission plant and 10 cents a kwh for low efficiency gas backup and we've got wind power at somewhere in the 30 to 50 cent a kwh range depending on location.
Wind energy averages about 20% capacity factor. The other 80% of their nameplate capacity must be provided by by spooling low efficiency gas generators up and down.
Less money less GHG's, less air pollution by skipping the wind altogether and using high efficiency CCGT plant. This scam is supported with $hundred of millions in Big Oil graft stuffing the pockets of corrupt politicians like the Dolt
Truly green wind/solar would require at least a month of storage the cheapest being pumped Hydro at a cost of a buck a kwh. It will bankrupt any country so foolish.
Clean and green zero environmental footprint new nukes are by far the cheapest energy available and would cost less than 3 cents a kwh.
AECL has completed 8 new Candu reactor installations over the last twenty years all on time in 4 years and on budget at $2B/Gw or less than 3 cents a kwh.- the cheapest reactor available anywhere outside China. The last one was completed in 2007 in Europe.
http://www.cnnc.com.cn/tabid/168/Default.aspx
Talon
30 weeks ago
Energy realities
One might complain about the cost of wind power at this point in time but the present very low cost of oil products will rise dramatically as it becomes harder and harder to find. We must get off the oil addiction and start living with reality on this finite planet. The big money elites are slowly moving towards sustainable fuels and we should all remember that BP is now promoted as Beyond Petroleum by their board of directors. Think what the USA could do in the SW part of their country with solar generators; some experts say that the entire energy requirement for the USA including electric cars, all industry, all homes could be met by solar alone! There is an exciting new world of opportunities being brought into focus and I am every excited about it.
alive
30 weeks ago
Logic has nothing to do with it!
Sorry to say, but the reason that windpower is not universally liked is simple: We can see and hear those windmills!
People have no problem with dirty oil, because they do not have to see it or smell it!
As usual people do not think logically, but go strictly by emotional input (happily provided by the media!)
snert
30 weeks ago
'Wind power revolution' hits Europe"
Seems it should work quite well when politicians are involved. Lots of hot air especially in Europe.
http://www.windatlas.ca/en/maps.php
Boy there's an awful lot of blue in this map.
mopled
30 weeks ago
Wind is just too unreliable
What is the point of building $Billion gas plants which remain idle until the wind stops? The whole premise for wind power was AGW. We now know that hypothesis is impossible, yet we continue to go down that road to perdition.
As George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, Australia wrote:
"Are there any long-term benefits from the schemes to combat global warming, apart from extra tax revenues for governments and income for those devising and implementing the schemes? Will the burdens be shared generally, or fall mainly on the shoulders of the poor?" http://opinion.financialpost.com/2011/10/26/carbon-credits-like-medieval-indulgences/
Does Alive want to live near a wind farm?
"More people are coming forward saying they're experiencing sleep problems, headaches, and heart palpitations caused by living near windmills.
Ontario physician Dr. Robert McMurtry told a news conference in Toronto Wednesday that while wind energy may offer a cleaner, more efficient way to generate electricity, those who live near the giant turbines are suffering through serious health problems."
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090422/wind_farms_090422/20090422/?hub=TorontoNewHome
snert
30 weeks ago
Nah, just their smart meters & cell phones.
jeanjacquesgrant
13 weeks ago
Seems it should work quite
Seems it should work quite well when politicians are involved. Lots of hot air especially in Europe. I couldn't agree more...
Jean
http://www.kingsizeheadboardsguide.com