Special Edition: World Wind Energy Report 2008

Dear www.windfair.net member and to all other of our dedicated readers,

Introduction:
Over the next two weeks the press section of www.windfair.net will be publishing the World Energy Report, as documented and sent to us for publication by the World Wind Energy Association. As a start we will be publishing the highlights of 2008 in the following and thereafter:

- General Situation;
- Leading Wind Energy Markets 2008;
- Continuation of Diversification and Increasing Growth Rates;
- Wind energy as an Answer to the Global Crises & as a Low-Risk Investment;
- Wind energy as job generator & Future prospects worldwide;
- Offshore wind energy & Continental distribution;
- Wind Energy in Africa;
- Wind Energy in Asia, Australia and Oceania;
- Wind Energy in Europe and;
- Wind Energy in North and South America.

So, do not forget to follow this series of interesting global wind energy developments.

Global Wind Energy Highlights:

- Worldwide capacity reaches 121.188 MW, out of which 27.261 MW were added in 2008;

- Wind energy continued its growth in 2008 at an increased rate of 29 %;

- All wind turbines installed by the end of 2008 worldwide are generating 260 TWh per annum, equalling more than 1,5 % of the global electricity consumption;

- The wind sector became a global job generator and has created 440’000 jobs worldwide;

- The wind sector represented in 2008 a turnover of 40 billion!;

- For the first time in more than a decade, the USA took over the number one position from Germany in terms of total installations;

- China continues its role as the most dynamic wind market in the year 2008, more than doubling the installations for the third time in a row, with today more than 12 GW of wind turbines installed;

- North America and Asia catch up in terms of new installations with Europe which shows stagnation.
- Based on accelerated development and further improved policies, a global capacity of more than 1’500’000 MW is possible by the year 2020;

For those of you who would like to read the entire report at once, please refer to the website of the World Wind Energy Association or contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net.