Offshore conference a success
What others say…
“Old ways of providing energy won’t be suitable for the next generation. Offshore wind is the only technology that can provide tens of GWs in our generation.”
Ian Marchant - CEO, Scottish and Southern Energy
"Wind farms last - I built a 250 kW wind farm in Ireland in 1992 and it is still bashing away today producing free power for the people."
Eddie O'Connor - CEO, Mainstream Renewable Power
“We are on the verge of a new age of electricity. We can make it the age of clean electricity.”
Andreas Nauen - CEO of Siemens Wind Power and chairman of the European Offshore Wind 2009 Conference
“We all know that the offshore environment is harsh and it's difficult to grow a new, massive industry in this environment - but that's exactly what we are doing.”
David Kidney - Under Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), UK
“Harnessing the winds off Europe’s coasts – starting with the more than 100 GW of planned projects announced today by EWEA - would provide an answer to the global challenges of climate change, depleting indigenous energy resources, increasing fuel costs and the threat of energy supply disruptions.
The European Commission is committed to doing everything we can to support offshore wind developers and make sure the planned projects come to fruition.”
Andris Piebalgs - EU Energy Commissioner
“European Offshore Wind 2009 is an opportunity for a real debate on the importance and relevance of wind energy to the sourcing and supply of a reliable energy supply for Europe. I would like to see a Europe-wide recognition of the potentialities inherent in this sustainable, renewable and inexhaustible power supply.
Our natural and renewable resources can power our world, fighting climate change and forming the next new wave of investment and employment for our people. Wind energy has everything to recommend it. With wind power, we diversify our power supplies and reduce our dependence on power sources beyond our shores. The input cost is zero and over time can help to reduce our electricity costs.
We need to plan for a world where cheap oil and gas is no longer readily available. We need to halt the onward march of climate change. We must plan Europe’s economic recovery and our future growth patterns. Renewable energy and wind specifically provides the answer to these questions. We have so much untapped potential; catching the power of the wind will help us fulfil the tasks ahead.
As we say in Ireland 'Is fiú agus is Feidir': It must happen and it will happen.”
Eamon Ryan - Irish Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
“European Offshore Wind 2009 is an important initiative in the European Community and it is a pleasure for Sweden to support this event that is to be arranged during the Swedish Presidency of the European Union.”´
Maud Olofsson - Swedish Minister for Enterprise and Energy
“We are proud that EWEA has chosen Stockholm to host the next European Offshore Wind Conference in 2009. Sweden is one of the few EU member states that have the potential to contribute to the substantial offshore development that is necessary to meet the renewable energy target for Europe in 2020.”
Matthias Rapp - Swedish Wind Energy Association
“As an active member of Swedish Wind Energy, Vattenfall fully supports our trade association, Swedish Wind Energy, in its desire to make the European Offshore Wind 2009 event a success for EWEA and the broader global wind industry. Swedish industry shows growing interest in the wind power business and holding European Offshore Wind 2009 in Sweden is an important step towards placing Sweden firmly on the wind power map.”
Lars G. Josefsson - CEO, Vattenfall AB
Interview with Andreas Nauen, CEO of the Siemens Wind Power Business Unit and the European Offshore Wind 2009 Conference Chair
What do you hope will be accomplished at European Offshore Wind 2009 in Sweden in September?
"I hope that this conference will send a strong signal to policymakers and to the general public that offshore wind power can and does play a major role in the European energy sector. The message is clear: The opportunities are great, we have proven that; we have moved from “vision to market” and the industry is ready to deliver."
How important is it that this conference takes place, considering the global economic meltdown and the dire threat of runaway climate change?
"There are many conferences these days around the globe covering modern power generation. This one, however, is dedicated to the most efficient technology to deliver “power plant” scale electricity in a reasonable time frame for an increasing number of countries with an offshore focus.
The potential is almost unlimited and offshore wind farms are a major contributor for reducing CO2 emissions. To put this in perspective, 8 offshore wind zones with an area of 100km2 could produce 3200 TWh of green power – enough energy to power all of Europe. This industry really can make a difference."
How do you see the development of European offshore wind power over the next decade?
"Unlike in other industries, where other continents are often ahead of us, offshore wind power is leading the European power sector. We are happy to see that offshore wind power is finally taking off and hope that this momentum will continue to grow and stimulate all potential stakeholders to move forward with this great technology. Offshore wind is more than just a profitable business - it will help to make sure that we provide clean and secure energy to future generations."
