Europe’s renewable energy landscape, already expanding steadily, is readying itself for further growth. At the end of June this year all 27 member states were set to hand-in their National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs) containing the steps they will take to reach their ambitious renewable energy targets by 2020.  While these plans are still being analysed, it is clear that the NREAPs are a good thing for the renewables sector and protecting our increasingly fragile climate.

Speaking at a Friends of Europe debate, Adam Brown, Senior Energy Analyst at the International Energy Agency (IEA) said: “The IEA’s view is that a huge expansion in renewables is essential to get anywhere near the energy mix which will allow the climate to be managed in a sensible way.”

But it’s not just the climate that will benefit from the renewable expansion that the NREAPs will encourage: Europe can work for its own competitive interests. Philip Lowe, European Commission Director General for Energy, told Europe to “think about developing renewables not just in terms of climate change but also as just plain and simple self-interest in competitive global markets.”

This fact is evident in the wind power sector where, if Europe does not invest in keeping its position as world market leader now, countries like China could step in and overtake Europe’s longstanding lead.

Plans to build the largest wind farm in the US, and possibly the world, took off last week with an announcement that financing worth $1.2 billion had been arranged for four of five initial phases of the ambitious project.

In announcing the deal, Terra-Gen Power said phases two through five of the Alta Wind Energy Center (AWEC) in Kern County, California would generate a total of 570 megawatts of capacity. Construction on phase one of the project, which is expected to generate 150 MW and required $394 million in financing, began in March.

Located in the Mojave Desert about 120 kilometres north of Los Angeles, the AWEC is, with more expansion in the future, potentially a 3,000-MW wind power development initiative.

A Terra-Gen press release said the AWEC project is underpinned by a 1,550 MW power purchase agreement to sell clean, renewable energy to Southern California Edison.

Jim Pagano, CEO of Terra-Gen, said the project will help the US advance its goal of achieving energy independence in an environmentally responsible manner. “The Alta projects I-V will create more than 1,500 domestic manufacturing, construction and operation and maintenance jobs, and inject more than $600 million into the local economy,” Pagnao added.

Last week’s announcement also caught the attention of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has increasingly become a fan of wind energy and other renewables. “Having the world’s largest wind project break ground in our state is tangible evidence that our pioneering policies are drawing investment, improving the economy and creating jobs now when we need them most,” Schwarzenegger said.

A Palestinian company and another from Israel have announced a unique joint wind power development project that shows working together can bring real benefits to the troubled Middle East.

Despite the deadly flotilla incident near Gaza, Brothers Group Engineering Company from Bethlehem and Israel Wind Power near Tel Aviv hope to install wind turbines for factories, offices and private homes in the West Bank.

According to a recent press release, the venture will include marketing, manufacturing and installation of wind turbines generating from 2 kW to 50 kW of electrical power.

“The Israel Wind Power company will provide its Palestinian counterparts with the technology and professional training to manufacture large capacity turbines, use of resistance accumulators for many years as well as advanced techniques which implement the most advanced standards,” the press release said.

“Business collaboration in the area of wind energy is something which will be for the benefit of everyone, it will serve as a bridge of peace for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” said Dr. Mohammed Salem, CEO of the participating Palestinian company.

Yoram Suissa, the business development manager of Israel Wind Power, reportedly said the joint venture will allow the Brothers Group to receive an open channel to market its products internationally as well as the ability to receive raw materials and significantly upgrade its development. “We will be for our Palestinian friends and colleagues a pipeline for their products to be marketed both in Israel and abroad. We shall partially finance their initial activities and act to raise money for joint projects from various sources.”

Specialising in renewable energy systems, the Brothers Group has developed and installed five wind turbine systems to generate 2 kW of clean off-grid electricity for private homes, collected by batteries. Israel Wind Power specialises in the development, design and installation of wind turbines producing clean electricity for both the private and business sector. 
 
“We see this joint business venture to be a business enterprise which connects these two communities in a blessed way, setting aside the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” Salem was quoted as saying. “We believe that this is an example of the ability of ordinary people to bridge gaps between our communities, especially during these stormy days.”

With a 29.5m turbine blade standing tall in the middle of the EU quarter surrounded by information panels all about wind energy, EWEA is certainly focussing attention on the climate, energy and employment benefits of wind energy. But this weekend we’ll be at the Fête de l’Environnement in Brussels to spread the positive messages about wind power even further.

The Fête de l’Environnement takes place in Parc du Cinquantenaire on Sunday 6 June, right near the European Commission and European Council buildings in Brussels. Numerous environment organisations will be there, including EWEA, and there’ll be street entertainment, organic food stalls, games for adults and children, farm animals and a music concert at the end of the day.

EWEA will be there in the lead up to Global Wind Day on 15 June – a worldwide celebration of wind energy.

For all readers who live in Brussels or nearby, pop by the EWEA stand (number 30) to come and meet us, learn all about how wind energy is already fighting climate change, and pick up your own pinwheel, beach ball, wind energy cap and wooden yoyo. We look forward to seeing you there this Sunday from 11 am!