THE EVOLVING ENERGY INDUSTRY

The Evolving Energy Industry

The Evolving Energy Industry

Wind power is one of the world's fastest growing energy sources. Already wind turbines with a total generating capacity of over 30,000 MW have been built around Europe. This figure is expected to exceed 1.2 million MW by the year 2020. Over the past ten years wind power capacity has been expanding at an annual rate averaging more than 30%. In contrast, the nuclear industry is growing at a rate of less than 1% whilst coal has not grown at all since the late 1980's. Europe is the centre of this young and high-tech industry and home to 90% of the world's manufacturers of medium and large wind turbines.

A new wind energy market segment is emerging offshore. Over 500 MW has already been installed in the seas off the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, the UK and Ireland, where a first project has been realised at Arklow Bank, off the Wicklow coast. The less turbulent, high wind-speed conditions make offshore wind development very attractive. In Ireland's case, where most potential development is located off the east coast and close to the heavy load centre of Dublin, there is a further advantage.

However, the offshore wind industry is still at an early stage and the high development costs involved are unlikely to match the competitive onshore costs in the near future.

Ireland still has many suitable onshore wind farm sites that can offer high wind-speeds and we can expect development to be focused there for some time to come.

Research and Development

EU funded Research and Development programmes such as those under the 5th Framework Programme have given great impetus to the wind industry in Europe over the past 15 years. The results of such programmes include the development of large MW-scale

turbines, the first European Wind Atlas and support ...