European wind power experienced an amazingly robust ride in 2009 even though the year began with an ongoing global recession and ended with continued inertia caused by political leaders failing to reach an effective agreement on limiting climate change. Indeed, there is only one conclusion to be reached following a quick review of press releases issued by the European Wind Energy Association in 2009: wind power was, and is, a force of good in an increasingly complex and diverse world whipsawed by economic, energy and environmental problems.

As a result of being local, affordable, sustainable, dependable and rapidly deployable, wind power's reputation continued to grow among policy makers and entrepreneurs alike as a smart investment in our collective future. Further enhancing wind power's popularity - especially during recessionary times - was the quickly escalating number of good-paying jobs associated with the demand for wind turbines. The fact that wind power is already a key solution to fighting global warming only served to highlight the industry's many benefits.

The Danish wind turbine industry is the world's wind hub and the center for knowhow of wind energy. But if this position and the resulting high export must be maintained, there are two main challenges that must be met. "The wind industry has an urgent need to test and demonstrate its technology in Denmark. It is therefore crucial for the industry's future, that there are the right places for testing prototypes and enough of them very soon", says Jan Hylleberg and adds "We also hope that there will soon be a renewed long term political focus when it comes to planning for renewable energy towards 2020. We need the support for the Danish development of wind power to be reconfirmed and translated into concrete planning so that our industry again can show the newest and best technologies at work on Danish soil as an integral and effective part of the Danish energy supply, and last but not least, wind turbines are essential in order for Denmark to realize its EU renewable energy targets."

"With over 5,000 participants, the 2007 European Wind Energy Conference (EWEC) has reflected the enormous potential of wind power as well as its challenges", said Arthouros Zervos at the closing session of EWEC 2007 organised by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) in Milan this week. During four days, wind energy professionals have analysed and debated the steps required for meeting a large part of European electricity needs by wind power. There is little doubt that wind energy will make a substantial contribution to achieving the European Council's recently adopted target of 20% of EU energy consumption coming from renewables by 2020. According to EWEA, installed wind energy capacity in Europe could reach 180 GW by 2020, enough to cover between 13% and 16% of EU electricity consumption. For that to happen, the target agreed by EU heads of States needs to be rapidly translated into effective legislation. During the Milan conference, the main challenges have been discussed by wind turbine manufacturers, component suppliers, developers, utilities, research institutes, national wind power associations together with national authorities and the European institutions. The conference conclusions will be fed into the ongoing negotiations on the new regulatory framework for renewables.