Powering Europe - European Wind Energy Association

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The contribution from wind energy to power generation
as foreseen by EWEA for 2020 (meeting 14-17%
of the EU’s power demand) and 2030 (26-34.7%) is
technically and economically possible, and will bring
wind power up to the level of, or exceeding, contributions
from conventional generation types 8 . These
large shares can be realised while maintaining a high
degree of system security, and at moderate additional
system costs. However the power systems, and their
methods of operation, will need to be redesigned to
achieve these goals. The constraints of increasing
wind power penetration are not linked to the wind energy
technology, but are connected to electricity infrastructure
cost allocation, regulatory, legal, structural
8 See EWEA’s report ‘pure power: Wind energy targets for 2020 and 2030’ on www.ewea.org
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inefficiencies and market changes, and are part of a
paradigm shift in power market organisation.
The major issues surrounding wind power integration
are related to changed approaches in design and operation
of the power system, connection requirements
for wind power plants to maintain a stable and reliable
supply, and extension and upgrade of the electrical
transmission and distribution network infrastructure.
Equally, institutional and power market barriers
to increased wind power penetration need to be addressed
and overcome. Conclusions on these issues,
along with recommendations to decision-makers, are
presented below.
Powering Europe: wind energy and the electricity grid
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