Renewable energy and wind energy in particular are decentralised forms of energy generation. Taking this into account, the World Wind Energy Conference 2008 Community Power has demonstrated in an impressive way the key role that community power has played, has to play and will play in the acceleration of wind energy deployment worldwide.

In this light, we are very proud to announce that the Board of the World Wind Energy Association has decided to give the World Wind Energy Award 2008 for theinitiation and support of community wind energy in Europe, North America and worldwide.

The Award will be given to the following people who have contributed significantly and in an exemplary manner:

·       Jointly Jane Kruse, and Dr. Preben Maegaard, Denmark

·       Paul Gipe, USA

Community power and decentralised investment are key for necessary accelerated wind energy deployment

Government of Ontario works on improvement of Standard Offer Programme and considers Green Energy Act

Kingston/Bonn (WWEA) – More than 600 high-level delegates from 40 countries have gathered for the 7th World Wind Energy Conference& Exhibition Community Power (WWEC 2008) at the St.Lawrence College in Kingston (Ontario), Canada. In more than 100 presentations, experts from all sectors of the wind industry discuss recent developments, successful policies and future prospects of wind energy utilisation in Canada, North America and worldwide. The conference has a special focus in enabling decentralised and community power investment. 

Feed-in tariffs for wind energy will be improved

WWEA welcomes amendments and calls on further governments to follow 

Bonn (WWEA) – The German Parliament adopted today the amendment of the Renewable Energy Act (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz (EEG)). The amendment aims at increasing the share of renewable energy electricity from currently 13 % to 30 % in the year 2020. It improves the remuneration of wind energy in onshore and offshore installations as well as for repowering projects. The amendments will be enforced as of 1 January 2009 and thus are expected to lead to a transitional slowdown of the German market in 2008 due to major shifts of wind projects starting operation to 2009.

Worldwide Capacity at 93,8 GW – 19,7 GW added in 2007

Wind energy is used in more than 70 countries – USA, Spain and China take the worldwide lead

Bonn/Toronto (WWEA) – In the year 2007, 19.696 MW of new wind energy capacity were added summing up to a global installed capacity of 93.849 MW by the end of December 2007. The added capacity equals a growth rate of 26,6 %, after 25,6 % in 2006. The currently installed wind power capacity generates 200 TWh per year, equalling 1,3 % of the global electricity consumption – in some countries and regions, wind energy already contributes 40 % and more. The wind industry employs today 350.000 people worldwide, after 300.000 employees in the year 2006. 

Full  pdf version of  press release can be downloaded here 526.72 Kb, Russian here 463.99 Kb

Mar del Plata/Bonn (WWEA) – The General Assembly of the World Wind Energy Association has elected the WWEA Board for the next two years on the occasion of the 6th World Wind Energy Conference 2007 in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Dr Anil Kane, WWEA President since 2005 and Chairman of the Indian Wind Energy Association, has been re-elected unanimously. 

The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations decided to grant Special Consultative Status to the World Wind Energy Association. This means that WWEA can now designate official representatives to the United Nations which can contribute to the different UN activities. The official status will allow WWEA to directly participate in and contribute to UN activities like the Commission on Sustainable Development and to draw more attention to the contributions of wind energy to sustainable development, climate and environment protection, poverty alleviation and energy security.