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Chicago, Illinois - The global wind energy industry today concluded its largest conference in history, hosting more than 3,600 attendees at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois. It was the first time the global wind industry has met in the United States. The conference and exhibition showcased the latest advances in wind energy technology, from sophisticated wind assessment tools to high-tech electronic controls and advanced materials design. Technological advances are driving down the cost of wind power to levels that are increasingly cost-competitive. Wind power has expanded at an average 28% annually over the past five years in the United States. In 2003, the United States added 1,687 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable wind energy capacity; Europe added 5,467 MW during the same time period. The world’s total wind power capacity is now over 39,000 MW or enough power to serve 9 million average American homes or 19 million average European households. Despite wind power's success in 2003, however, industry leaders converged in their assessment of the barriers to large-scale development of wind power, including inefficient and balkanized transmission systems. They expressed concern about the growth of the U.S. wind industry in the face of continuing policy uncertainty. A recurring theme was the need for governments to recognize and reflect in their policies the substantial role that wind power technology can play towards meeting objectives of security of energy supply, job creation, energy source diversity, sustainable economic growth, and climate change and pollution prevention. “With clear and consistent policy direction from the United States government, we are confident that the U.S. wind industry can provide at least 6% of the nation’s electricity by 2020, but current policy is anything but clear or consistent,” said Randall Swisher, executive director of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). “Without a clear signal from Congress in the form of a long-term extension of the wind energy production tax credit, the American wind industry faces an uncertain future.” The wind energy production tax credit has expired three times over the past five years, most recently expiring on December 31, 2003, and new wind power development is on hold pending an extension. "The available wind resource in the world is more than four times the world’s total electricity consumption; less than 0.1% is currently being exploited. Thus, the potential for clean power production is still largely unexploited,” said Prof. Arthouros Zervos, President of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). “The future expansion can be significant; the global scenario Wind Force 12 demonstrates that there are no technical, economic, or resource barriers to supplying 12% of the world’s electricity needs with wind power alone by 2020 - a total of 1,200 GW of installed wind power.” Additional announcements at this year’s conference included:
### AWEA, formed in 1974, is the national trade association of the U.S. wind energy industry. The association’s membership includes turbine manufacturers, wind project developers, utilities, academicians, and interested individuals. More information on wind energy is available at the AWEA web site: www.awea.org. The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) was founded in 1982. EWEA is ‘the voice of the wind industry’ and EWEA members from over 40 countries include around 200 companies, organisations, and research institutions. EWEA members include manufacturers covering 98% of the world wind power market. More information at www.ewea.org |
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©
2004 by the American Wind Energy Association. |
