At the Offshore Wind 2009 conference currently under way in Stockholm, attendees have heard from a new report, “Oceans of Opportunity”, that 100 GW of offshore European wind power projects already in planning stages could produce 10% of Europe’s electricity.
The report, published by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), says these offshore wind projects could avoid 200 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
However, more government and investor backing is needed in the EU to see these projects come to fruition. Offshore wind farms currently only account for about 0.2 percent of Europe’s electricity demand.
Oceans of Opportunity states offshore wind power provides the answer to Europe’s energy and climate dilemma – tapping into an abundant energy resource free of greenhouse gases, that reduces fuel imports dependence, creates thousands of new jobs and provides large quantities of home-grown affordable
electricity.
Over the next 12 years, 360 GW of new electricity capacity – which is 50% of current EU capacity – needs to be constructed to replace ageing European power plants and meet the expected increase in demand.
The European Environment Agency (EEA) estimates the technical potential of offshore wind power in Europe in 2020 at 25,000 TWh, between six and seven times greater than projected electricity demand, rising to 30,000 TWh in 2030, seven times greater than projected electricity demand.
All that is needed to effectively tap the massive wind power resource is the political will.. and a pile of cash.
The full Oceans of Opportunity report can be downloaded here (PDF)
