13 February 2010
Wind in power: 2009 European statistics
- More new wind power capacity was installed in the EU in 2009 than any other electricity-generating technology.
- Of all new capacity installed in 2009, 39% was wind power, followed by gas (25%) and solar photovoltaics (17%).
- Europe decommissioned more coal, fuel oil and nuclear capacity than it installed in 2009.
- Taken together, renewable energy technologies account for 62% of new power generating capacity in 2009.
- Investment in new European wind farms in 2009 reached €13 billion, including €1.5 billion offshore.
- 10,163 MW of wind power capacity were 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 successive year that renewable energies have accounted for the majority of new investments.
