News | Energy Efficiency

http://www.newenergyworldnetwork.com/renewable-energy-news/by-technology/wind/coal-still-king-in-eu-despite-wind-growth.html

Despite considerable growth in wind energy in 2010, the European Union (EU) installed more coal than it decommissioned last year for only the second time since 1998.

The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) said wind power installations accounted for 17 per cent of new electricity capacity in 2010 but it was the first year since 2007 that the region did not install more wind power than any other generating technology.
Gas capacity rose to 28GW in 2010, compared to 6.6GW in 2009, and represented 51 per cent of all new power capacity in 2010.
Christian Kjaer, CEO of EWEA, said the figures were a warning that the EU can not take for granted the continued financing of renewable energy.
‘Better access to financing is urgently needed, and the EU must act without delay to prevent Europe losing its leadership in wind power and other renewable technologies.’
Also in the same set of figures, EWEA said it was the growth of offshore wind installations that was the key driver behind the 9.3GW of the new capacity that was built in the EU during 2010.