EWEA Blog - X European Wind Energy Association 2013 Chair sees promising signals from emerging markets

How would you describe the current wind power market in Europe and what
do you think the short-term outlook is?

The context where the EU wind industry is currently operating is one of
economic downturn. Yet, the strong links between economic activity,
energy supply and demand and energy investments, make it more difficult
to understand the condition and timing of recovery. It will likely take
other three or four years for the EU economy to recover and for the gap
between power supply and demand to close and until that time major
growing opportunities will be unlikely in mature European Markets.
Despite the concerns on the short term outlook, positive signals are
coming from promising markets in Eastern Europe. Meanwhile there is
still room for EU member states to stimulate growth in renewables by
making progress on the targets planned for 2020 in National Renewable
Energy Action Plans through increasing coordination and a sound policy
framework at European and national level.

With your role as EWEA 2013 Conference Chair, what two or three key
discussion topics do you think people will be talking about the most in
Vienna?

The debate surrounding how the European industry can keep growing in a
context of economic downturn will be at the centre of the discussion in
Vienna. Sharing experiences and practices concerning technology
innovation and continuous efficiency gains will be an important part of
the Conference. Other topics very likely to be high on the agenda: the
need for an EU-coordinated effort to address investments to facilitate
renewable energy growth (e.g. grid infrastructure investments, R&D) and
a regulatory framework able to maintain investor confidence. The
opportunity of wind power growth in emerging markets, in Europe and
outside the continent, will be another object of major interest.

Francesco Starace, EWEA 2013 Chair

Francesco Starace, EWEA 2013 Chair and CEO of Enel Green Power SpA

What do you expect to gain from EWEA 2013 in Vienna and what are you
most looking forward to?

EWEA annual events are unique opportunities for the industries active
along the wind supply chain. EWEA 2013 represents a Europe-wide arena
for networking, where mature and emerging players in the wind market can
do business together and learn about latest technology developments.
Through ad-hoc seminars, participants will be allowed to share ideas and
experiences and translate them into real applications to deal with the
key challenges the industry faces and also, getting together with EU
policy makers, they will be able to understand more about renewable
energy targets and shape the future of the industry.Given the challenges
that lie ahead for the future of the wind industry, all these activities
represent a fundamental drive to reveal the full potential of the wind
industry of the future within and beyond Europe.

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