Powering the energy debate

Foreword keeping the momentum
2010 was a year of many highs and some lows. One of the highs was the fact that
the Member States’ National Renewable Energy Action Plans showed the EU to be
en route to slightly exceed the 20% renewable energy target.
Similarly, the European Commission’s important communications on a 2020 strategy
and on infrastructure priorities were steps towards a Europe-wide power grid and
a functioning single electricity market.
EWEA reached out to a wider audience in 2010 through its ‘Breath of Fresh Air’
campaign. It communicated the benefits of wind energy through a visible presence in
Brussels and beyond, including the display of a turbine blade and a photo exhibition in
the EU quarter, as well as the array of events organised worldwide for Global Wind Day.
EWEA organised a host of policy workshops and campaign debates, covering topics
from green jobs, to the barriers to wind energy in emerging European markets.
Two major events were the European Wind Energy Conference 2010 – which went ahead
successfully despite the disruptions, or eruptions, caused by a volcano – and GRIDS
2010, which focused on the power network.
We were also involved in several EU-funded projects, published a range of new reports,
launched a blog on www.ewea.org/blog, and took forward our press and social media
work, as well as our magazine Wind Directions. We significantly increased services to
members with new online tools, more in-depth monthly newsletters and new business
opportunities.
However, a low last year was the slowdown in annual wind energy installations, which
shrank by 11% compared to 2009. The figures showed that financing cannot be taken
for granted.