WindEnergy 2006 gains further international partners, thus expanding its global network still further

2006 will certainly be another exciting year, with further advances for the wind industry. We want to play our part in those developments, with the third WindEnergy in May 2006. The preparations for this leading international fair for the industry are in full swing.

Many of you have already received acceptance for your stand at the fair. For others, arrangements will be finalised in the near future. We currently have a Europe-wide promotion tour under way, to raise awareness in the target markets still further of the unique concept of the WindEnergy - the dedicated industry fair at an international trade fair centre. We have received very positive feedback from Spain, Sweden and Denmark for our information events for industry re- presentatives and the media. We have already made numerous contacts for the events in Turkey at the end of January and the UK in February, and look forward to constructive meetings.

Hamburg Messe is expanding its network of trade associations and institutions in all relevant markets, to underscore the international orientation of the WindEnergy and to bring together all the key representatives from government and business in Hamburg in May - the WindEnergy is active with its own foreign representatives in more than 40 countries. You can read more below about our cooperation with the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA), the largest association for renewable energies in the rapidly growing wind market in China. There are currently also ongoing discussions with the Australian Wind Energy Association (AusWEA), the Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers (IWTMA) and the Japanese Wind Power Association (JWPA). There will be more news on these developments in the next e-news.

We also getting strong backing from the power companies: Vattenfall Europe has been appointed as the main sponsor for WindEnergy. It is a subsidiary of the Swedish Vattenfall Group, the fifth largest power company in Europe, and is thus an outstanding partner for the WindEnergy; it plans strong future commitment in the wind industry.

Decision making aid for all corporate planning matters is provided by the WindEnergy Study 2006, the third edition of which is now coming up for publication, giving an overview of market assessment by companies in the wind industry for the next five years. Data collection started in December 2005, and the study will be officially presented in early March. Read more about this highly regarded Market study. Further topical news from the wind industry and on WindEnergy 2006 is provided in this issue of WindEnergy e-news.

And finally, something about this publication - from now on, the e-news will appear regularly once a month. We look forward to using this e-publication to keep you informed on an even more topical basis on the WindEnergy and the key issues of the industry.