Endurance Windmills

Clean Energy. Just Plug it In.

2009-09-14T10:30:00.000-07:00

Endurance Wind Power is helping Distributed Power Generation become a reality in North America

Ultra-safe and cost-effective, our turbines are designed for homes, farms, schools and businesses - basically anything that can be connected to a utility's power grid.

These truely grid-connected (inverterless) wind turbines come in 5KW, 35KW and 50KW sizes, all designed with state-of-the-art features for safety, efficiency, reliability and quietness of operation.

Herb Hill has Endurance

2009-09-14T10:29:00.001-07:00

For 'trailblazers' like Herb, distributed wind power generation makes perfect sense.
It's GREEN ENENGY THAT WORKS.

Herb Hill supplements his retirement income by growing fruit on his 5 acre ranch in Oklahoma.

A former electric utility company employee, Herb heard about the Endurance Windpower turbine, and how it was rated best overall in cost, maintenance and longevity.

Based on his monthly 2,000 to 5,000 kWh power consumption, Herb did the math and realized the Endurance can drastically reduce his power costs, and safeguard his income when electricity costs rise like he projects they will.

"The local distributor (P&K Wind Energy) and their installation crew were wonderful, and the turbine is whisper quiet," says Herb, who gets 40-50 kWh per day from his Endurance turbine.

Endurance wind power works for Herb Hill. It can work for you too.

Turbine Kicks Off Renewable Energy Service

2009-08-11T12:36:00.000-07:00

FISHERSVILLE - A spinning wind turbine has joined the fields, mountains and power lines on the bucolic skyline near Expoland in Fishersville.

J. Irvin Marshall, who owns the antebellum Red Beech Farm, said, "The farm had a windmill at one time, and now it's going to have one again."

But this is no ordinary windmill.

On Wednesday, Marshall, the vice president of James River Wind Energy, a subgroup of James River Equipment, erected an on-grid induction generator turbine on his property. His two goals were to offset the majority of his farm's energy costs and to pioneer a trend of privately owned consumer retail wind turbines people can use to power their properties.

Marshall said his company will offer a "complete turnkey" operation, installing and maintaining turbines for the owners. Marshall said this means job growth, as James River Wind Energy employees and local contractors are being trained and certified to serve this potential market.

Sean Cooper of Shenandoah Tower Service said his company knows the ropes of building towers, but he and his co-workers were happy to be trained on installing a turbine.

"Wind energy is just going to grow over the years, so it's good to get our foot in the door," he said.

'Not your grandfather's windmill'

The turbine looks a lot like EVE - the sleek, white robot sidekick from Pixar's "WALL-E" - with three additional black propellers on a huge pole secured with cables.

"This is not your grandfather's windmill," Marshall said.

This 5-kilowatt S-250 model from Endurance Wind Power stands about 126 feet high above Marshall's 130-acre farm. Height is key, he said, because it means more energy from smooth, "clean" wind as opposed to the turbulent wind bouncing off buildings and through trees below.

Marshall said his farm has ample space for the rig and has a prevailing wind that "shoots all the way to Stuarts Draft" at about 12.5 to 14 mph. He expects it to provide 9,000 to 15,000 kilowatt hours per year and hopes the turbine will provide 75 percent to 90 percent of the energy used in his home and farm.

Marshall had to get a special-use permit from the Augusta County Zoning Board in order to build the turbine. At a May public hearing, Marshall reassured neighbors it wouldn't obstruct their views or make much noise.

"So far, the neighbors have been supportive because everyone is interested in wind energy," said zoning administrator John Wilkinson.

Wilkinson said there are about five other turbines in the county, but Marshall said this is the only one he knows of that uses an induction generator, which produces ready-to-use AC electricity that runs directly into his house and local power grid. Most other turbines generate DC power, which often gets stored in a battery and needs to be converted before it can be used, which Marshall said is inefficient.

Not for everyone

In Marshall's net metering agreement, he'll be free to use the energy his turbine generates. If he needs more electricity, it will come from the Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative's power grid and he'll pay the balance each month. If he produces more energy than he uses, he may receive credits from the company.

Marshall, Wilkinson and John Coffey, vice president of engineering and operations for SVEC, say an arrangement like this requires a certain amount of free space and a constant source of wind. Plus, Marshall estimates a turbine like his can cost $40,000 to $70,000 to build.

Coffey said the SVEC sees a considerable interest in private wind and solar energy generation.

"We'll talk to a few hundred people a year about doing that. Out of the 39,000 members we serve, only 14 have taken advantage of the net metering option," Coffey said. "What people generally (find) is that the cost is more significant than they anticipated."

Marshall said no one has placed an order for a turbine yet. But, "we have a few confirmed persons saying, 'Let me see yours up first.'"

This article is provided by:
J. Irvin Marshall,
Vice President of James River Wind Energy, a subgroup of James River Equipment
www.jamesriverwindenergy.com

Ashland Announced Collaboration for Wind Power Market

2009-06-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

Posted By - Your Renewable News (press release) - Aberdeen,UK

Endurance Wind Power Inc. is a North American producer of a complete line of small to mid-size induction generator, grid-connected (inverterless) wind ...

Ashland Performance Materials (USA), a global leader in unsaturated polyester resins and epoxy vinyl ester resins, announced collaboration with Amtech, LLC (USA) and Endurance Wind Power (USA) to produce wind turbine blades at Amtech's North American manufacturing facility in Washington state. Amtech, LLC is one of the largest fabricators of high quality, large scale and complex geometry composite products in the American market. Endurance Wind Power Inc. is a North American producer of a complete line of small to mid-size induction generator, grid-connected (inverterless) wind turbines. "Ashland has a long history of providing Amtech with resin chemistries to produce composite parts for the military and transportation industries," said Ruben Bake, global marketing director, wind energy, Ashland Performance Materials.

As Endurance looked to rapidly grow in volume, and lead the small and medium wind turbine market with advanced airfoil design and composites technology, they collaborated with Ashland and Amtech to develop a unique market approach. "Ashland's resins for wind energy enable Amtech to produce highly engineered, lightweight, high quality blades for Endurance," said Douglas Christie, Amtech's CEO. Ashland's significant investments in developing new resins and associated products for the wind power market over the past five years contribute significantly to this project. ""Amtech and Ashland have been working together for many years. Ashland has a long history of providing Amtech with resin chemistries to produce composite parts for the military and transportation industries," said Ruben Bake, global marketing director, wind energy, Ashland Performance Materials.

Should Renewable Energy Be Written Into Law?

2009-05-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

From VOA News

The demand for renewable energy sources has grown from a gentle breeze to a gale force wind. More than 20,000 people are in Chicago this week to study the power of wind. The group is calling for a comprehensive national policy on alternative energy. They come from all over the world to talk about the power of wind - and an industry that is no longer just an illusive goal of starry-eyed environmentalists. It's an industry that's making money. "We had no idea of the extent of the interest and how it would hit," said Doug Hicks, Endurance Wind Power.

Five years ago, Doug Hicks co-founded a Canadian-based manufacturer of mid-sized wind turbines for farms, businesses, schools and homes. Last year, they produced about 200 turbines. This year it'll be five times that amount.

The big manufacturers are cranking them out too. Forty percent of the country's new electricity generation is coming from wind. And one of the big reasons for that are financial incentives in the Obama stimulus package. Developers are getting tax credits or cash that can cover up to a third the cost of putting up a turbine.

"Energy is a policy driven business - no matter what energy you're in," said Declan Flanagan, E.On Climate and Renewables.

On Wednesday, some of the leaders of the wind power business used the occasion to call for national renewable energy standards. It's one thing, they say for the President to set a goal -- 20-percent of our energy from renewable resources by 2030-- but they want a law requiring it. "We're talking about big capital developments here. These companies need time to factor in economics and they need to work it. That doesn't happen overnight," said Gen. Wesley Clark (Ret.), Emergya Wind Technology.

"If we don't have renewable energy standards, we really would not see the full potential of renewable energy. We would not see half - not even a quarter," said Mike Polsky, Invenergy, Chicago.

Critics though say a law is not necessary because the free market is working fine and the wind power industry is just looking for a ticket to fatten its wallet. At least, for now, the wallets are growing, and so too are the number of players in the wind power business.

"As North Americans, we think the Europeans are ahead of the curve, but they're interested in our technology which is quite interesting to me," said Hicks. Twenty eight states - Illinois among them - have their own renewable energy standards. There is a bill in the U.S. Senate, in committee now, that propose national standards --25 percent of the nation's energy by the year 2030 would have to come from renewable resources.

There are many costs connected to that - not least among them the billions of dollars it'd take to build up a national electrical grid.

Written by Paul Meincke
Energy Tribune
www.energytribune.com

Energie PGE Has Become A Part of the Endurance Family

2009-04-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

Endurance Wind Power of Surrey BC is pleased to announce their acquisition of Quebec based Energie PGE.

This acquisition results in Endurance having a combination of a full range of top quality products and legendary industry engineering expertise, providing a true market edge in the small to mid range wind power industry. Endurance now becomes the only company offering a full suite of true direct connect, on grid(inverter-less) wind power systems designed for our new age of clean energy.

"I am very pleased to have Energie PGE become a part of the Endurance family.Our company is much stronger with the addition of their experienced technical staff, and well designed turbines. This gives us the ability to achieve our goal of market dominance in the 100Kw and under space." stated Glenn Johnson, President and CEO of Endurance.

By offering customers unique induction based turbines (ranging from 5Kw to 30Kw and 50Kw models) that are equally efficient in both high and low winds, Endurance continues to provide market leadership for Distributed Power Generation. In our current uncertain economic times, people, schools, farms and businesses - even small towns - are being motivated and incented to produce their own power - hedging against inflationary energy costs and offsetting their carbon footprint.

Endurance Wind Power Tax Credit

2009-03-18T15:57:00.000-07:00

Endurance Wind Power among small wind turbines eligible for 30% tax credit, homewonwers and businesses benefit from American Recovery and Re-investment Act (2009 Stimulus Package) US Federal Government Signs into Law 30% Tax Credit for Small Wind

As part of the US economic stimulus package signed into law last month the Federal Government has provided a tax credit that is the largest in its history in an effort to support renewable energy and small wind power.

This new legislation is an update from last year's announcement of a tax credit that was capped at a maximum of $4000.00.

This new incentive package has eliminated the cap on the small wind investment so now a consumer or small business that is investing in an Endurance Turbine that can run a large sized home or small business is eligible for a full 30% tax credit or even grant.

How can I benefit from this stimulus package?

An Endurance wind turbine and installation can be reduced by 30% of the total cost provided you owe taxes in the course of a few years. In addition, depending on which state you reside and install your Endurance Turbine.

This year alone we have seen more than 25 states introduce renewable energy incentive programs that Endurance customers can take advantage of.

Imagine - due to Endurance's top quality product and reliability you are also able to get your turbine financed through some of our select finance partners. Something the small wind industry has never seen before.

Endurance is changing the landscape of Small Wind Power and making it both affordable and practical for homes, farms, small businesses, schools and many other corporate customers to produce green power that works.

A tax credit is money that you can claim and deduct from any tax amount that you owe to the federal government. You can carry over the small wind tax credit for upto two years from when you installed your Endurance Wind Turbine.
Further details can be received by a tax specialist or your accountant. An IRS form 5695 must be completed and sent in with your taxes. (you will need the updated form that reflects the updated changes)

This 30% tax credit applies to one or more Endurance Wind Turbines and businesses and schools may qualify for a grant from the treasury department instead of a tax credit.(details on this grant are still forthcoming)

You can review further details on the U.S. federal agencies' progress through several government web sites:

Comprehensive American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Information: www.recovery.gov
Energy Department Information Related to ARRA: www.energy.gov/recovery/
Treasury Department Information Related to ARRA: www.treasury.gov/recovery/

Endurance Wind Power - Keeps its Promise in OHIO

2008-12-30T13:15:00.000-08:00

The Endurance Wind Turbine is doing exactly what we were told it would do. We love the way it's built - to last decades - reliability and longevity is one of the key reasons we invested in the Endurance and when you see how its built then you can appreciate this.

We like the fact that the Endurance comes with a factory supplied tower, this ensured a quick and easy installation, even though it was well below freezing when we installed it. The Turbine mounted seamlessly to the tower and its tilt up function for ease of servicing and maintenance is a huge benefit of this product.

We live in a excellent wind zone for the Endurance Turbine between a class 2-3 wind zone - right between Lake Erie and Lake Michigan. We are already getting people from our area stopping by in interest and support for renewable energy. They are all pretty excited when they see our utility meter spinning backwards. We explain to them that we are feeding power back into the utility grid instead of consuming it which means Power Savings - they like that.

First Energy is the electric utility in our area. They have been very supportive of our project and this first installation took us about 3 months to get the approvals and permits organized. We would expect future installations of the Endurance to go much quicker due to the fact that these parties have now been exposed and understand the safety and reliability of the product.

Once First Energy engineers understood how the product connects and disconnects to the power grid and the redundant fail safe mechanisms Endurance has designed to ensure the turbine can work safely and efficiently with the power utility then there was no issues. Customers do need to fill out an application with the utility and a representative will come out to visit the site.

In Ohio, there are some great tax incentives for businesses who wish to install these types of wind turbines and the U.S. Government just passed a $ 4,000 tax credit to home owners who wish to produce their own power.

Thanks again for delivering on your product's promises.

Art Miller and John Carder
Wauseon, Ohio

Windy In New York for the Endurance during the Holidays

2008-12-29T13:10:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a little breezy today. The Endurance fault tolerant braking system shut the turbine down due to high winds (65.2 mph). We waited a while and the blades began to turning again, Then the grid went down (only for about 5 minutes), and the turbine waited about 5 more and we were making power again.

Then the turbine shut down again (63.8 mph wind), I got impatient and started the turbine and did not let it cycle on its own this time, then the wind blew a little more... And in the 24 hours from 8:45 last night until 8:45 tonight, our meter for the turbine said ... (really I read the meter and did the math) that our little windmill managed to produce 83 kwh of power in just the last 24 hours!

And as I get ready to send this e-mail - the control box says that we are still producing 4867 watts! WOW the Endurance is everything you promised. God bless global warming and the Endurance!

Andy Willard

Andrew, Raeleen, & The Boys
Hermon, NY

Supporting Pickens Plan is Good for the Economy and Our Planet

2008-12-09T12:13:00.000-08:00

T Boone Pickens has been a huge supporter of Wind Energy for many years and has an incredible story to tell about North American's dependency on foreign oil and our need as a nation to look at alternative resources for powering our homes and vehicles. Goto www.pickensplan.com

North America has an abundance of wind and clean natural gas. The Pickens Plan teaches and informs us of solutions to the issues that plague our country and economy.

Wind power is capable of producing 20-30% of our nation's electricity in a matter of years and we all can help and participate in this regard. T Boone Pickens and many other corporations are investing in Large Wind Farms.

Endurance Wind Power offers small business, farmers and home owners the opportunity to participate in this initiative first hand, by producing their own power while their excess energy is sent back on to the Power Grid for
others to use. Endurance Wind Power makes it possible for all of us to participate in this important initiative.

As our new President of the United States gets ushered into power in January 2009, we're confident that he will follow through on many of his plans to support alternative energy programs. Its already happening at the Federal
Level, in October 08, a new Federal Tax credit for small wind power was enacted that provides customers with up to a $ 4,000 tax credit with every new small wind turbine installation.

Endurance Wind Power urges you to learn more about Pickens Plan and join the army of Americans in support of this initiative. You can start changing America's future today by supporting the Pickens Plan. goto www.pickensplan.com.

The need to lower our reliance on foreign oil is paramount and producing our own power is one of the best ways that we can do so.

Endurance Windmills in Texas

2008-12-04T12:48:00.000-08:00

Wanted to thank the Endurance team on an awesome product and let you know that it was a pleasure dealing with your company. We recently installed an Endurance S-250 on a 126 FT tiltable tower at our home in Texas. We were told the Endurance Wind Turbine would be extremely quiet so we installed it very close to our home. I had no idea how quiet it would be.

Friends who have had experience with other turbines told us we were crazy to install it just 120 ft from our house. They told us we wouldn't get any sleep. This unit is so quiet that I could sleep right under it. I was just on my cell phone while at the base of the tower and the turbine was running in 20 MPH winds. My friend asked me where I was and I told him. He could not believe it, I could barely hear the wind turbine myself so I knew he couldn't at the end of the other phone.

Blue Bonnet Electric, the utility interconnect that services our area in Texas was great to work with. They made the interconnection very straight forward and simple for us. There were 4 steps in the process;

1) Fill out an Interconnect Document

2) Send in the Endurance Documentation for Interconnection to the Utility Engineers for approval

3) Utility representative came out to the house to visit the site and we received approval

4) Once the Turbine was installed another representative from the utility visited to ensure the installation and interconnection was completed in a satisfactory and safe manner.

The utility had the following comments about the Endurance Turbine:

- Very impressed with the installation and the design of the Wind Turbine - one of the best designed turbines they had ever seen

- They like the class of turbine (size 5 KW) and how it worked from an operating stand point

- They really liked the fact that there were no batteries or inverters in the system - they felt the Endurance design would be much safer and reliable

- The utility even took pictures

By the way - Really like the design of the controller and the software. The Fact that all the information about the turbine appears in one screen is very helpful.

Thanks again.

Victor Hauk
Manor, TX

Comments From A Proud Endurance Wind Turbine Owner on Martha's Vineyard

2008-11-03T15:09:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody. As the latest members of the Martha's Vineyard group Don and I are pretty excited. I am so obsessed that I have installed a web cam in the skylight in Don's studio so that I can watch our turbine live from work (and show it off like a proud parent). If you want to see it you can go to Simon Bollin's website: www.Ilovethevineyard.com

Pull down to the bottom of the page and on the left you will see a link to MV Wind Turbine. Click on the link and follow instructions. If you are crazy enough to want to watch your own turbine contact Vineyard Electronics and we can set you up. You will have to have a computer network connection near a window that can view the turbine or spend extra for an outdoor waterproof cover for the camera and the network connection to the location. We were lucky to have the skylight in the barn and a convenient network connection. There is only one window in our house that can actually see the turbine through the trees and there isn't a convenient network connection near that skylight. If you want better resolution it gets pretty expensive. I am already tempted to upgrade the quality of the camera but I have decided to wait and see if the novelty wears off before spending the extra money.

Linda

What Goes Around, Comes Around A fine example of Distributed Power Generation (Distributed Wind Power).

2008-10-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

By Ian E.M.Griffiths

Endurance Wind Power speaks a lot about Distributed Wind Power and with their unique turbine design they offer North Americans an affordable and cost effective way to produce their own power by connecting directly to the power grid. People, Farmers, Schools and Small business whom are looking for ways to produce their own power need to review the industry leading features of Endurance Wind Power products.

Sustainability. Carbon footprint. Global warming. CO2 emissions. Kyoto protocol. We all know the buzz words that frame the environmental crisis; the world is finally understanding the imperatives of implementing meaningful change. But how can we as individuals implement a planet-wide (and planet-wise) "green revolution"?

The driving personalities behind a story of stunning transformation were role models Jorgen Tranberg and Soren Hermansen. Thanks to them, and the innovative people on the island of Samso in Denmark, the answer to all of their problems (and maybe ours, too) was simply "blowin" in the wind".

In less than 10 years, this bucolic island of 114 square kilometers of grazing land and farms weaned itself from a reliance on fossil fuels and conventional grid electricity to go totally off-grid. There are 21 turbines located on Samso, and it is the first island in the world to be entirely powered by renewable wind energy. The two hundred and fifty households on the island have also reduced their heating costs by 20%. The island is an excellent example of distributed power generation, exporting a 4% excess of energy from their windfarms and other sustainable energy resources to the mainland.

And to think, all of this sprang from a simple village get-together and the will to make it happen. Now that's ecology that makes good economy!

(Source: The Geography of Hope by Chris Turner (Vintage Canada Edition 2008)

Ian Griffiths has taught Visual Art and Media Studies in Montreal for thirty-three years. As an artist, the power of nature and our relationship with the environment have played key roles in his painting. As a role model for his students, he is committed to supporting and raising awareness of global environmental issues. The future leaders he teaches today will be the problem solvers of the "green revolution". (Check out his art at www.griffithsart.ca .)

U.S. Federal Government Supports Small Wind Power with Tax Incentives

2008-10-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

As of Oct 3rd 2008 Congress has signed into legislation under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, H.R. 1424, a federal tax credit investment program that will encourage small business, farmers and how owners to invest in small wind. Any owners that install a 100 KW unit or less will be eligible to receive a tax credit of up to $ 1,000 per/kw of capacity not to exceed $ 4,000. This tax credit is available from Oct 3/2008 through December 31/2016.

Endurance Wind Power Inc appreciates Congress' support for Small Wind and the fact they are recognizing the importance that distributed wind power can have in the overall energy contribution towards a cleaner environment. We need to fight global warming and governments financial support at the federal level is extremely important. This legislation is the first federal level incentive since for small wind power since the 80's.

Wind Turbines in Wisconsin

2008-09-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

Endurance Engineer David Laino shares his experience installing a Wind Turbine in Wisconsin...

The David Jolly installation went well, with just one minor hiccup and all in all it was a smooth operation.

David and Deb Jolly were superior hosts. They treated me as an old friend, providing excellent accommodations and food. The property is fantastic, right off the highway exit, very rural, in a beautiful landscape with ponds and fields and a red barn too. David may decide to install another turbine soon.

The work days were long, but Dave and his friend Bob were tireless workers. Tower work is by far the larger assembly project. Efforts to measure the guy wires to reduce adjustments seemed to help. Once the tower was finished, turbine assembly was a snap, less than four hours total. I even managed to get the new isolation washers and bushings on in record time putting them on the studs prior to mounting the turbine. This is my new recommended technique, and we may even wish to ship new turbines with a set of washers and the bushings on the studs already. The Endurance Wind Turbine is now in service.

David Laino
Engineering
Endurance Wind Power Inc

Here's David Jolly's reaction after the installation:

Just finished the install. It was great to have David Laino here. I contacted
two local tv stations and they both came to the install and did a story.
The interest from the media and other people is amazing in Wisconsin.

- David Jolly Wisconsin

And here's the video:

Endurance Featured on MSNBC and CNN

2008-07-07T11:36:00.000-07:00

Endurance Wind Power was featured on May 5th on CNN and MSNBC. Almost a year ago, the town of Greenberg Kansas suffered a devastating, record-breaking tornado. Winds of over 200 miles per hour wiped out 60 business and most homes leaving two-thirds of the population homeless. Now, faced with the daunting task of rebuilding their city, the residents have decided to not only rebuild their town, but to renew it. The community is committed to taking a low-impact development approach to recreating their town with the installments of geothermal heating and cooling systems, LCD stop lights and wind turbines making Greensburg "The Greenest City in America".

Endurance Wind Power is honored to be a part of this innovative and inspiring development. We will be providing a portion of the energy in Greensburg, with the installments of several wind turbines. The John Deere dealership will be partly powered by wind and will also use floor hydronic heat that relies on corn oil and waste fuel. We support Greensburg's commitment to becoming an environmentally sustainable town and are proud to be providing the community with wind turbines.

Click the image to view the video clip

Click the image to view the video clip

Government outlines wind farm expansion plans

2008-07-03T16:27:00.000-07:00

LONDON (AFP) - Thousands of new wind turbines could be built across Britain by 2020 as part of multi-billion pound plans to switch to more sustainable energy sources, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Thursday.

Setting out the London government's plans for greater investment in and reliance on renewables, Brown envisaged Britain's coastal waters being turned "into the equivalent for wind power of what the Gulf of Arabia is for the oil industry".

This year, Britain would pass Denmark as the country with the world's highest operating offshore wind capacity of more than 400 megawatts, he told a low carbon economy summit in London.

"By 2020 we will have installed around 14 gigawatts -- that is around 3,000 offshore wind turbines, meeting up to 50 percent of our renewable electricity," he added, stating he wanted Britain to be a leader in "clean energy."

"The North Sea has now passed its peak of oil and gas supply -- but it will now embark on a new transformation into the global centre of the offshore wind industry," he added.

There will have to be more windfarms onshore too, despite criticism including from those who say they blight the landscape, he said.

A government blueprint announced later set out plans for 7,000 new wind turbines -- 4,000 onshore and 3,000 offshore -- greater support for "green" energy and allowing renewables into the national power grid.

Brown also renewed his commitment to greater use of wind, wave and nuclear power to move Britain away from its reliance on oil and fossil fuels, amid spiralling prices, in order to secure its future energy supplies and meet carbon reduction targets.

Currently about eight percent of Britain's total energy supply comes from low carbon sources -- two percent from renewables and six percent from nuclear.

Britain has a European Union-imposed target to produce 15 percent of its energy supply from renewables by 2020. Brown said to do so would require 100 billion pounds (126 billion euros, 198 billion dollars) of investment.

The measures would see Britain generate up to a third of its energy supply from renewables to meet the target, Brown added.

As posted on Thu Jun 26
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/
080626/world/britain_energy_climate_environment_1

Home-made power? It's a breeze

2008-06-12T09:18:00.000-07:00

New Zealand (The New Zealand Herald) With hydro lakes at their lowest levels in years and talk of a looming power crisis, some New Zealanders are turning to alternative energy sources - really big ones.

Graham Purchas, who is considering buying a 4m-high wind turbine for his farm north of Wellington, was among the thousands who yesterday poured through the gates for the opening day of the 40th Fieldays at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton.

The four-day event is the biggest agricultural show in the Southern Hemisphere and last year had a turnover of $300 million.

More than 1000 exhibitions over the show's 94ha are displaying farming innovations and new technology, ranging from smart phone systems which can oversee any aspect of farm management to recycled pieces of plastic which dry the insides of your gumboots overnight with the right wind conditions.

"You'd probably be surprised at how many people have shown an interest in these things," said Jonathan Prince, a co-creator of a wind-driven gumboot dryer he calls "Windry".

But Mr Purchas, a 48-year-old software developer, had his eyes firmly on the wind turbine.

"Given how windy it gets down in Wellington, it's probably ideal," he said. . And with the cost of electricity these days and all the other problems we've had lately, it's probably the way to go."

With a 20km/h wind, the 2.4kW wind turbine, which works in conjunction with a grid-tied power situation, can generate enough power to keep a four-bedroom home powered.

"A lot of people are freaked out by the cost of energy, so we are getting people who are hedging their bets against rising energy prices," said Hamish Littin, general manager of Elemental Energy. He said the turbines were environmentally-friendly and economically sound.

"If we are generating more than the home is consuming, then we export energy back out to the grid and the energy companies credit you back at retail rates."

By James Ihaka

To view the complete site
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/
story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10515883

China: Nation's Wind Power capacity is set to triple in 2 years

2008-06-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines, Jun 9, 2008, 2008 (IPS/GIN via COMTEX) -- China plans to triple its wind power capacity over the next two years, according to a senior policy development official.

The plan is in line with the central government's more general goal of increasing the share of renewable energy in the country's total energy mix and thus reducing the country's greenhouse gas emissions.

China's total wind power capacity now stands at 6,000 megawatts, but by end 2008 this will have reached 10,000 megawatts. And by 2010, the central government will have boosted wind power production to 20,000 megawatts, said Song Yanqin, deputy director of the research management and international collaboration division of China's Energy Research Institute.

The institute is part of the Beijing-based National Development and Report Commission, the agency tasked with implementation of energy conservation and emissions reduction programs.

"An increase in wind power capacity will help meet growing local demand and also ensure environmental protection," Song said on the sidelines of the Asian Clean Energy Forum, which was held here last week by the Asian Development Bank and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

China's rapidly expanding economy has made it a major energy consumer: Its average annual GDP growth has been surging at around 10 percent over the past five years.

China depends primarily on coal, an abundant and cheap indigenous energy resource. In the next 20 years, as China's economy continues to rise, the Energy Information Administration forecasts that the demand for coal will grow at an annual rate of 3.5 percent.

But coal-fired power plants boost carbon emissions that hasten global warming. The World Bank reports that China has 20 of the world's 30 most polluted cities, largely due to high coal use.

Global warming and consequent climate change are taken seriously by the Chinese government. Already, the melting of glaciers in Tibet and Xinjiang and increased temperatures in western China are threatening to reduce the rain-fed rice yields. China's coastal areas have also suffered from extreme storm surges in the past few years that have been attributed to climate change.

"China is seeking a new development path," said Yu Cong, director of the Energy Research Institute's energy efficiency center. Yu, who also participated in the Asian Development Bank forum, added that the Chinese government prefers a more sustainable economic development model and is striving to reduce its energy consumption. Development of renewable energy sources such as wind power is a key measure, he said.

Renewable energy accounts for only a quarter of China's total installed capacity of over 700,000 megawatts. In 2007, China consumed 2.65 million tons of coal equivalent, only 7.5 percent of which was renewable. The government hopes that by 2010 wind, hydro and solar energy will account for 10 percent of total consumption.

Compared to leading wind energy producers and consumers such as Germany, Spain and the United States, China's installed capacity is still low. But Song is confident that this will change over the next few years and that China may even emerge as the world's biggest wind power producer. "We have the resources. Our coastlines are longer than Spain," he said.

"Although China still lags many countries in terms of total wind power installations, its recent growth rates have far exceeded the world average. An increasingly strong policy environment and a growing local manufacturing base has contributed to China's more than doubling of its wind power capacity in 2006," said Joanna Lewis, senior international fellow at the U.S.-based Pew Center on Global Climate Change.

In a study released in July 2007, Lewis made a comparative study of wind power development strategies in China, India and Spain. She enumerated several programs to encourage local wind turbine manufacturing and increase the number of wind farms. These include tax breaks, concessions, competitive bidding process for wind farm development, promotion of technology transfer and subsidies on wind energy research.

Such measures will continue to support not only China's wind power program but also its renewable energy development plan. Subsidies, tax incentives and more funding for research can help create a "stable, predictable and sustainable market demand" for renewable energy, Song said.

Copyright (c) 2008 IPS-Inter Press Service. All Rights Reserved.

As published by Power Engineering International
http://pepei.pennnet.com/news/display_news_story.cfm?Section=WireNews&Category=
HOME&NewsID=162892

Quebec oks wind-power proposal

2008-05-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

Quebec (CBC News) Hydro-Quebec has accepted 15 bids to provide a total of 2,004 megawatts of wind-generated electricity, which will come on stream between 2011 and 2015.

The government-owned utility said Monday the average price is 10.5 cents per kilowatt-hour and the projects involve estimated capital outlays spending totalling $5.5 billion, including $1.1 billion for transmission infrastructure and transportation costs.

The contracts arise from a call for tenders issued in October 2005 seeking Quebec-generated wind power.

The outcome "ensures a supply of renewable energy at a highly competitive cost for wind power," stated Hydro-Quebec chief executive officer Thierry Vandal.

The majority of farms will be built outside of Quebec's urban areas for the most part, will spur local economies in eight regions, the power corporation said.
Quebec will triple its wind power production over the next decade.Quebec will triple its wind power production over the next decade. (Charlie Riedel/Associated Press)

All the winning bidders have promised that at least 60 per cent of the cost of each wind warm will be incurred in Quebec, and at least 30 per cent of the cost of the wind turbines must be incurred in Matane in Gaspesie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine.

Hydro-Quebec will now draw up firm contracts with the project proponents, which must arrange environmental and municipal permits.

The projects will undergo environmental impact assessments and will be submitted to the province's environmental public hearing board (BAPE).

The 66 bids totalled more than 7724 MW, about four times what the province was seeking.

* Monteregie: 2 proposals from Kruger energie et Venterre for 150 MW.
* Central Quebec: 1 proposal from Enerfin Sociedad de Energia for 100 MW.
* Chaudiere-Appalaches: 2 proposals from 3CI and St-Laurent energies for 306 MW.
* Greater Quebec City region: 3 proposals from Consortium Boralex and Societe en commandite Gaz Metro (2), St-Laurent energies (1) for 345.9 MW.
* Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean: 1 proposal from St-Laurent energies for 350 MW.
* Lower St-Lawrence: 4 proposals from Invenergy Wind Canada, Kruger Energie, St-Laurent energies and B&B VDK Holdings for 606.6 MW.
* Gaspesie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine: 1 proposal from Venterre for 66 MW.
* Cote-Nord/Mingamie: 1 proposal from St-Laurent energies for 80 MW.

Many of the wind farms will be built in outlying regions.Many of the wind farms will be built in outlying regions.
Hydro-Quebec could take more risks, but gamble is good

The projects will make Quebec a leader in Canada in clean energy, environmental groups said.

"Coupled with energy efficiency, wind power, one of the cleanest forms of energy, is without a doubt the most responsible way to respond to [energy demands]," said Steven Guilbeault, a spokesman for equiterre, in a written statement.

"When wind energy replaces another source of energy, it can significantly contribute to reducing greenhouse gases, whether it's used domestically, or is exported."

Hydro-Quebec could have taken more risks, but decided to play it safe with its winning bids, said wind energy expert Jean-Louis Chaumel.

"[They are] clearly focusing on very credible, stable and safe companies and promoters, rather than on innovative or community approaches," he said Monday. "It's a political choice."

The huge cost involved makes established companies with stable financing more appealing, Chaumel said.

One of the main promoters picked - St-Laurent energies - is associated with France's public utility.

St-Laurent energies will produce nearly half of the megawatts up for tender. Projects closer to Montreal and in the Charlevoix region weren't chosen.

As published by CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/05/05/qc-windpowerbidresults0505.html

Research finds wind power poses least risk to wildlife

2008-05-04T10:37:00.000-07:00

(Houston Chronicle)Wind and nuclear power plants have the lowest potential impact on wildlife among the major U.S. electricity sources, according to a report examining several decades of research.

Taking into account the entire life cycle of a power project " from extraction of the fuel through plant construction, operation and shutdown" the risks to wildlife ranged from low to medium for wind and nuclear, according to Christian Newman, president of Florida-based Pandion Systems.

Newman's firm did the study for New York state officials this year and discussed the findings at the American Wind Energy Association's annual conference, which concluded Wednesday at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Coal power had the highest risk level, in large part because of the impact of smokestack emissions and habitat destruction related to coal mining methods such as mountain top removal.

Oil, which is declining in use as a power plant fuel, was given the next-highest risk rating based on emissions and transportation risks. Natural gas-fired plants followed, with only emissions raising their risk rating.

"All energy sources affect wildlife, but no one has looked at all the sources from cradle to grave for their impact," Newman said.

Answering concerns
The study can help answer concerns about the safety of wind power projects to birds, Newman said. Typically the wind industry responds by pointing to studies that say more birds are killed by cats or by running into cars and buildings than by collisions with wind turbines, he said.

"Unfortunately these arguments aren't comparing apples to apples and they don't fix the problem," Newman said. "Wind advocates now have a platform to start talking about the issue without having to point to cats or buildings."

Concern about wind power's effect on bird populations is based in large part on projects at Altamont Pass in California, which have been blamed for thousands of bird deaths since being installed in the 1970s. Those turbines are located on bluffs where hawks and eagles soar and hunt.

While bird kills on the scale of Altamont have not been reported at other wind farms, a pair of projects on the Texas coast along major bird migratory routes are raising new concerns.

A group including the King Ranch, the American Bird Conservancy, the Lower Laguna Madre Foundation and the Coastal Bend Audubon Society has filed suit in federal court to stop the projects being built by Babcock & Brown and Iberdrola Renewables.

The plaintiffs question the accuracy of the pre-construction bird studies the companies did and are worried roads being built to bring in the hundreds of turbines will impede the flow of freshwater into the Laguna Madre, a unique coastal habitat.

These critics also say the projects should have been subject to state review as required by a federal coastal management program that provides the state with millions of dollars in grants every year.

"With no regulation and all of this happening on private land, there's no avenue for anybody to express their concerns on these projects," said David Newstead, head of the Coastal Bend Audubon Society in Corpus Christi, in an earlier interview with the Chronicle.

Radar ornithology
Sidney Gauthreaux, a pioneer in so-called radar ornithology, said during the conference that pre-construction bird and bat surveys are not particularly useful for determining potential dangers to the wildlife. That's why he and colleagues studied historic radar weather data to develop what he says is a better way of assessing and managing the threats.

They found bird deaths are more likely during certain weather conditions, particularly low visibility and shifting wind patterns during the times of night when migrating birds are most active.

Those conditions are relatively rare, however, occurring on fewer than two nights per year at sites in Gauthreaux's study" one in Amarillo and three in New York state.

That means wind farms that are properly equipped can shut down to avoid possible bird kills without losing too much valuable power generation time.

John Calaway, chief development officer for Babcock & Brown, said the project south of Corpus Christi will use on-site radar and other weather-monitoring equipment to match bird migrations with weather conditions that create the greatest risk of bird deaths. Iberdrola said it may do likewise.

"The company realizes the importance of this and will shut in our production whenever visibility is lower than one-half mile during peak migratory times," Calaway said during the conference. But he said the likelihood the project would kill birds is low.

By TOM FOWLER
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

As published on
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/5819709.html

Global wind installations pass 100 GW, and are predicted to rise to 240 GW by 2012

2008-05-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

European Wind Energy Associaton
Wind energy is booming worldwide. Following another record year in 2007 with over 20 GW of new wind capacity, and additional installations at the beginning of 2008, the global wind market has now passed 100 GW. On the second day of the European Wind Energy Conference (EWEC) in Brussels, the opportunities and challenges facing the world's leading wind energy markets, plus the huge potential for the future, were discussed.
Steve Sawyer, Chief Executive of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), opened the session by presenting GWEC's new publication, Global Wind Energy Report 2007, which provides an overview of the situation worldwide and its impressive recent expansion.

"Due above all to the stronger than anticipated growth in the US and China in recent years, and China's emerging manufacturers, which are helping ease global supply, there has been an unexpectedly strong increase in wind deployment all round the world," he explained. "As a result, GWEC now foresees the global wind power market growing by over 155% to reach 240 GW of total installed capacity by 2012".

Birger T Madsen, from BTM Consult, explained that his company forecasts 140,000 MW of annual installations over the next thirteen years, which will give a cumulative installed capacity of nearly 1 million MW (1,000 GW) by 2020.

"1,000 GW of capacity will enable wind power to provide 7–8% of the world's electricity demand by 2020," he added.

There are many markets worldwide whose development will help ensure this wind energy expansion. Senior Energy Specialist from the World Bank, Søren Krohn, looked at some of those with the most potential. Mexico is a "fully developed market for independent power producers", but has transmission issues and supply bottlenecks to overcome. Turkey has a "feed-in tariff system, which gives access to a wholesale market". Meanwhile in Morocco "there is a strong government commitment to wind energy, with a target of 1,000 MW of installed capacity by 2012, up from the current total of 124 MW".

One country which has already started installing significant amounts of wind energy is the US, which in 2007 added a record 5.2 GW of capacity to reach 16.8 GW. This accounted for about 30% of the country's new power-producing capacity in 2007. In Europe, wind energy made up 40% of new energy installations last year.

Rob Gramlich, from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), presented a new draft report, entitled 20% wind vision – a collaborative technical report. The document shows that it is technically and economically possible for 20% of US electricity to come from wind by 2030, up from just over 1% today.

Rob Gramlich stated that "we need to install over 16 GW annually in order to reach the 300 GW by 2030 that will give us the 20% of electricity from wind. We need to change people's perceptions so that they see that benefits such as jobs and a stronger economy are closely linked to our choice of power-generating technology."

While the North American wind industry is booming, South America has been slower taking off. Despite its vast natural resources, there is only 530 MW of wind capacity currently installed there. Christian Grütte from Leonardo Venablers in Spain presented the South American wind market. He outlined the reasons for the continent's slow start, citing political instability, lack of attractive incentives, limited grid access and restricted turbine supply as the major barriers.

He concluded that "South America has a potential wind energy capacity of more than 300 GW. In the coming years, governments should start introducing the reliable investor incentives and objectives the region's industry needs, in order to begin to fulfil this potential".

One of the South American countries with the best wind resources is Chile. Cristobal Garcia-Huidobro from Centinel presented the development of wind energy in Chile. Initially dependent on gas from Argentina, the country was left stranded when its neighbour cut off supplies in 2004. This eventually led to discussions on a renewable energy law, which came into force in March 2007. The law obliges generators with over 200 MW of installed capacity to meet a 10% renewables target.

Chile's first ever wind farm began operations in December 2007. Currently at just 18 MW, an additional 70 MW should come on line soon, and a second wind farm project is under development.

The chairman of the session, Peter Brun from Vestas, concluded by underlining, as all the speakers had done, the strong worldwide potential of wind energy.

He said, "Globally, we can see strong market trends, but there are still a lot of unclear areas and obstacles. The trends alone are not enough. We need policy stability and transmission planning. In this way, we can show policy-makers that wind is not a niche or ‘alternative' form of energy, but a mainstream source of power."

In a later session, various awards were presented. Four Poster Awards went to Rene Cattin, Florian Bertsch, Simon Watson and Gabriele Michalke for their innovative and interesting designs.

The Scientific Award was presented to Stig Oye for his outstanding work in wind energy technology. The Excellent Young Wind Doctor award, given for the first time at this year's EWEC, aims to bring recognition to recently graduated PhD students. It was won by Dr. Jason M. Jonkman and Dr. Tonis Sant.
As published on
http://www.ewea.org/index.php?id=60&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]
=1311&tx_ttnews[backPid]=259&cHash=cde5d628f4

Pure Power on the Horizon-More than one third of the EU's new electricity generating capacity will be wind power

2008-04-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

Published by The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA)
In its latest report entitled "Pure Power - Wind Energy Scenarios up to 2030", the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) outlines the road towards large-scale wind energy. Presenting three development scenarios for 2010, 2020 and 2030, the report examines in detail the probable impact on electricity, greenhouse gas emissions and the EU economy. It confirms the positive prospects of a technology that last year became the leader in terms of net power capacity additions in the EU (1). Wind power's share of new generating capacity is forecasted to be 34% in the period 2005-2020 and 46% in the decade leading up to 2030. Wind power's share of new capacity in Europe in the 25-year period 2005-2030 is 39% (2).

Wind power has experienced dramatic growth over the past years. It currently meets 3.7% of the EU electricity demand and has ranked second in terms of net power capacity additions over the last eight years (3). This strong development can be maintained, and further reinforced in the coming years, as long as the clear commitment from the European Union and its Member States continues. Swift adoption of the new EU Renewables Energy Directive by the European Parliament and the Council is the key to a strong future development.

Pure Power shows that the European Commission's goal of increasing wind power's share up to 12-14% by 2020 is within reach. "On average, wind power capacity needs to increase by 9.5 GW per year over the next 13 years to reach 180 GW and meet 12-14% of EU power demand in 2020. This is certainly achievable considering that the EU wind energy capacity increased by 8.5 GW last year" commented Christian Kjaer, EWEA's Chief Executive.

The wind industry target of 180 GW by 2020 (4) is equivalent to supplying the electricity needs of 107 million average EU households. Such penetration level would avoid the emission of 328 Mt of CO2 -the equivalent to taking 165 million cars off the road -, contribute 44% of the EU greenhouse gases reduction target and avoid yearly fuel costs of 20.5 billion Euros and CO2 costs of 8.2 billion Euros. It would also create hundreds of thousands jobs.

"In the current context of soaring energy demand, supply constraints, environmental degradation and climate concerns, wind power stands at the forefront in offering immediate and concrete solutions to the benefit of all European citizens" concluded Christian Kjaer.

Note to editors:

EWEA is the voice of the wind industry, actively promoting the utilisation of wind power in Europe and worldwide. It now has 400 members from 40 countries, including manufacturers with a 90% share of the world wind power market, plus component suppliers, research institutes, national wind and renewables associations, developers, contractors, electricity providers, finance and insurance companies and consultants. This combined strength makes EWEA the world's largest and most powerful wind energy network.

As published by the European Wind Energy Association
http://www.ewea.org/index.php?id=60&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1315&tx_ttnews[backPid]
=259&cHash=b682bc6349

Tens of thousands of high skill jobs to be filled in wind energy

2008-04-02T10:18:00.000-07:00

(The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA))Tens of thousands of high skill jobs need to be filled to continue the high growth rates of the global market for wind energy technology. The biggest need is for technical profiles. For the first time at the European Wind Energy Conference (EWEC) today,the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) held a specialised job fair,bringing 300 potential employees and 30 of the sector's leading companies together within the professional framework of EWEC.
"A very large part of our lives is spent at work and people are paying more and more attention to the products and services they help produce. The wind energy business needs to fill tens of thousands of jobs over the coming years to sustain the high growth" said Christian Kjaer,EWEA's Chief Executive. "Above all,Europe needs to educate far more technical staff and engineers to maintain its global leadership position in wind energy," he continued.

The wind energy sector employs thousands of people in Germany,Denmark and Spain - all pioneering countries in wind energy - where it has given local economies a significant boost. In Spain,a total of 35,000 jobs related to wind have been created,and 80,000 in Germany - of which 28,000 come from the machinery industry alone. There are 21,600 jobs of this nature in Denmark.(1) EWEA uses a tentative figure of 150,000 wind energy-related jobs in the EU altogether. According to the EC-funded MITRE project report,this could more than double by 2020,providing 368,000 new jobs in Europe.

The most sought-after profiles are in areas such as electrical or mechanical engineering,aerodynamics,project development,installation,and operations and maintenance. However,the rapid growth rate of the companies in the wind energy sector also requires a broad range of managerial profiles.

Visitors to the job fair were all very enthusiastic about wind energy and the career paths it offers. Fabrice Schurmans from Belgium,a bio-engineering student,said,"Renewable energies - and wind energy in particular - can help European energy independence. Wind energy is becoming ever more important,so I want to get involved now." Patricia Sánchez from Spain,studying for a Master's in Fluid Mechanics,agreed. "Wind energy is a sector which is going to grow and grow - it offers great employment opportunities."

As published by European Wind Energy http://www.ewea.org/index.php?id=60&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]
=1312&tx_ttnews[backPid]=259&cHash=db0d258c97

Update 2-Wind power could make Norway "Europe's Battery"

2008-03-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

OSLO, (Reuters) - Norway could become "Europe's battery" by developing huge sea-based wind parks costing up to $44 billion by 2025, Norway's Oil and Energy Minister said on Monday.

Norway's Energy Council, comprising business leaders and officials, said green exports could help the European Union reach a goal of getting 20 percent of its electricity by 2020 from renewable sources such as wind, solar, hydro or wave power.

"Norway could be Europe's battery," Oil and Energy Minister Aaslaug Haga told Reuters after she was handed the report, which will be considered by the centre-left government in coming months.

"The thinking is that Norway is blessed, is lucky, to have big energy resources. There is undoubtedly a large potential for wind power," she said. Norway says it has the longest coastline in Europe, from the North Sea to the Arctic Barents Sea.

The 30-page report, mapping out a big shift for the world's number 5 oil exporter, said: "Norway ought to have access to up to 40 terrawatt hours of renewable energy in 2020-2025, of which about half would come from offshore wind power."

Sufficient wind parks -- totalling 5,000 to 8,000 megawatts installed capacity -- would cost between 100 billion Norwegian and 220 billion Norwegian crowns ($43.89 billion) assuming prices of 20-28 million crowns per installed megawatt.

The energy would be equivalent to up to about eight nuclear power plants. Norway pumps about 2.2 million barrels of oil per day -- $44 billion represents the value of about half a year's output.

WIND, HYDRO

Haga said offshore wind parks -- which would stop on calm days -- could be supplemented by hydro-power reservoirs which can be turned on and off to turn them into a battery storing power. Norway has about half Europe's reservoir capacity.

"We can deliver a product whether the wind is blowing or not," she said. Haga will meet EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs in Brussels on Thursday, partly to discuss the report.

It said Norway still needed new laws, competitive subsidies and more infrastructure. Norway sometimes has problems supplying even its own electricity needs with its existing hydro-power.

And it said that Denmark, Germany and Britain had done much more to develop wind power, both on land and in shallow waters. Norway's advantage was wide experience from deeper offhore oil and gas installations.

StatoilHydro (STL.OL: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said last week that it will invest $80 million to build the world's first full-scale floating wind turbine to start up in 2009. Power from such installations is likely to be more costly than on land.

The report said that Norway would have to agree long-term wind supply contracts with EU countries, including access to EU subsidies. But Haga also said: "I don't expect Europe to subsidise Norwegian wind power producion."

"It's not a first choice to import power," said Steinar Bysveen, who led the report. He said EU nations such as Germany might need imports because of a lack of space to build wind parks at home and plans to phase out nuclear power.

The Energy Council report said that 40 terrawatt hours of electricity from wind could cut 20 million tonnes of heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions, blamed for stoking global warming. Norway's 2007 emissions were 55 million tonnes.

By Alister Doyle, Environment Correspondent

As published on
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssEnergyNews/idUSL2648359020080526?sp=true