By Chuck Ring (GadaboutBlogalot ©2009 – 2010)

Quote Freely From The Article – Leave The Pseudonym Alone

More wind power generating capacity was installed in Europe than any other technology last year.  Gas generating capacity followed with second place and solar photo-voltaic came in third.  All this according to PR Newswire.  The report states that more coal and nuclear capacity was decommissioned than was installed for the two sources during 2009. The story continues:

Investment in new European wind farms in 2009 reached EUR13 billion, including EUR1.5 billion offshore. 10,163 MW of wind power capacity was installed across the European Union – a 23% increase compared to 2008 installations – made up of 9,581 MW onshore (up 21% from last year) and 582 MW offshore (up 56% from last year).

2009 is the second year running that more wind power capacity has been installed than any other electricity-generating technology, and wind’s share of newly installed capacity increased from 35% in 2008 to 39% in 2009. It is also the second year running that renewable energies have accounted for the majority of new investments.

Industry managers are praising the increased capacity as decreasing carbon, while increasing jobs, other economic activity and overall electricity production.  The total European generating capacity from wind generation sources is found in this quote:

Wind power’s total capacity in the European Union has now reached 74,767 MW, up from 64,719 MW by the end of 2008 with Germany remaining the EU country with the largest installed capacity, followed by Spain, Italy, France and the UK.

Optimism appears to be common in the European renewable energy field. To read the forecast possibilities, click here.

To see and read a PDF with all the 2009 statistics, click here.

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