Global Wind Day events in Brussels kicked off today with a conference at the foot of the 29.5m turbine blade in the middle of rond point Schuman. Christian Kjaer, CEO of EWEA, highlighted the fact that over the next few days around 220 Global Wind Day events will take place in 26 countries to celebrate and inform the public about the benefits of wind power.

At the conference EWEA also released its estimate for new wind power installations in 2010. Despite the ongoing economic crisis, the EU is set to have the same amount of new capacity this year as it did last year – around 10 GW.

“This is another strong year for wind power installations,” Kjaer said.

More striking is the fact that this year’s installations are based on orders that were placed during the financial crisis. New installations in 2009 were based on orders placed before the financial crisis.

Ingmar Wilhelm, Executive Vice President of ENEL – the sponsor of the blade exhibition – said that the crisis has helped “drive the industry to become more organised and efficient.” Wind power “really impacts the energy scenarios of today,” since it is now a mature energy source, he added.

Wind power has a “strong development path ahead of it. It will only improve its cost effectiveness and competitiveness,” Wilhelm said.

More good news for wind power: two countries have installed their first wind farms this year – Slovenia and Cyprus – making Malta the only EU country without wind power.

As for whether or not wind power will again top the table of new installed energy capacity (last year 39% of all new capacity was wind power, ahead of gas, coal and nuclear), Kjaer said it was “too early to tell.”

Global Wind Day – a worldwide celebration of the climate, energy and employment benefits of wind power – is fast approaching. With many events happening this weekend, check out www.globalwindday.org for a map of events and zoom in to see what’s taking place near you.

Here’s just a teaser of some of the happenings…

In Belgium, events include a feast of music and food will take place at an open day at the Dour Quiverain wind park on Sunday 13 June. Meanwhile, on the same day in Houyet you can learn more about wind energy and try out an electric car. For those of you in Brussels, there’s still a chance to visit the turbine blade installed in the middle of rond point Schuman.

Over in Denmark, a wind power exhibition will be installed on a large boat touring Jutland on 15 June.

A whole host of windy events are taking place in Ireland, from ‘touch a turbine’ on 12 June, to open days. Wind farm tours and music concerts under turbines are happening in the UK in a variety of locations and on a variety of days, check the list.

In Greece children can take part in drawing competitions, while football teams from companies and organisations can take part in the ‘green football league’ taking place on 12-13 June.

In Italy, events include wind and wine tours, kite surfing competitions and freestyle Frisbee competitions, while in Spain and Portugal there’ll be open days and workshops.

Outside of Europe there’s plenty going on. In Argentina there’s drawing competitions for children and wind farm open days, while in India there’s wind instrument music concerts.

This is just a small selection of events happening this month in celebration of Global Wind Day – from Japan to Germany much more is on the calendar. Be sure to check www.globalwindday.org for more information.

Are you going to a Global Wind Day event? Tell us about it by commenting below…

Despite a couple of heavy down-pours, the EWEA stand at the fête de l’environnement in Brussels on 6 June attracted plenty of people keen to learn more about wind energy and pick up a free mini windmill or packet of Frisk mints. The sun did definitely make an appearance, with Global Wind Day caps flying off the stand during the first half of the fête.

Visitors asked the EWEA team questions about the forthcoming Global Wind Day, and told us they were impressed to see the turbine blade in the middle of the rond point Schuman near Parc du Cinquantenaire in the EU quarter.

A 10-person wind instrument band, including an acrobat, made a special appearance, entertaining the crowd with songs including Bob Dylan’s famous ‘blowin’ in the wind’.

For those of you who missed out, be sure to see what’s happening near you this weekend and the following week for Global Wind Day!

Blade arrives at Schuman

Sparkling white, tall and sleek, right in the middle of the EU-quarter stands a 29.5 metre wind turbine blade. The slender wing casts a shadow on the European Council Justis Liptus building and is visible to anyone going into the European Commission and Council main buildings on their way to work this morning.

It is a symbol of Europe’s leading renewable energy – wind power – a clean, CO2-free fuel that is driving the fight against climate change, securing economic benefits and increasing the security of our energy supplies. Seeing this aerodynamic feat of engineering up close is a rare and impressive experience.

Weighing in at 4,100kg, this type of blade is used in 1-1.3MW turbines which can produce enough electricity to meet the annual average electricity consumption of over 760 households. Despite its size – it’s nearly as tall as the 16-floor Commission headquarters – it is relatively small compared to the 60m blades used to power 6-7MW turbines today.

The blade arrived on trucks in Brussels last night after a long haul from the Netherlands already adorned with EWEA and sponsors ENEL Green Power labels. It took several hours and a team of engineers to put up the foundation, fit the main blade exactly into it and finally the pointed tip which needed a massive crane to put it in place.

“We are very excited this project worked out, the setup alone was spectacular and the finished installation is all the more impressive and shows that wind energy is not only providing environmental and economic benefits but can also be an aesthetic object, a symbol for a renewable energy future,” said Elke Zander, EWEA’s campaigns officer.

The blade has been put up to mark Global Wind Day on 15 June, but also for the beginning of the EU’s Green Week (1-4 June) and the Fête de l’environnement (6 June). Information panels will (from this afternoon) surround the blade highlighting the benefits of wind power.

Blade tip is lowered in place

“It is also a reminder that Europe need not forever be dependent on imported, polluting and expensive fossil fuels. There is, in fact, enough wind blowing across the continent to power it seven times over,” Zander said.

Visit the Global Wind Day website for more information on what’s going on near you, and check out our campaign website to see how you can show your support for wind energy by adopting your own turbine. And for more photos of the blade, check our facebook page!