This week's report by the European Wind Energy Association summarizes the blockbuster growth of the wind electric industry in Europe.

It says a total of 65,933 MW of installed wind energy capacity was operating in the European Union (EU) and EU-candidate countries by the end of 2008 - roughly 2.6 times more than the US total, and 511 times bigger than the Michigan total.

It turns out no single country in Europe has an installed capacity exceeding the US total. However, Germany comes close - of all European countries, it has the largest installed capacity at 23,903 MW, or 94.9 percent of the American total. Spain ranks number two at 16,740 MW, or 66.5 percent of the American total. Italy ranks number three at 2,726 MW, or 14.8 percent of the American total.

Even more remarkable, the same report says more wind power was installed in the EU than any other electricity generating technology in 2008: 43 percent of all new electricity generating capacity built last year was wind energy, exceeding all other technologies including gas, coal and nuclear power. The same report said that, on average, 20 wind turbines were installed in Europe for every working day of 2008. By the end of 2008, a total of 160,000 workers were employed directly and indirectly in the sector, which saw investments of about 11 billion Euros.

The report said the wind power installed in the EU by the end 2008 would, in a normal wind year, produce 142 terawatt-hours of electricity, equal to just a small amount (4.2 percent) of the total EU electricity demand. Without question, that number will grow, given the strong commitment of the Europeans to build more and more wind farms and more and more businesses in wind-energy component manufacturing and servicing.

To get a sense of the scale of the European wind-electric industry, it is instructive to look at the data from a Michigan perspective. Earlier it was mentioned that Michigan's installed wind-electric capacity is 129 MW compared to an American total of 25,170 MW. If we divide these two numbers, we can express America's total installed capacity as 25,170 / 129 = 195 Michigan equivalents. In contrast, Texas, the number one ranking American state, has an installed wind-electric capacity of 7,116 MW or 55.2 Michigan equivalents. Iowa, at number two, has 2,790 MW or 21.6 Michigans. California is in third place with 2,517 MW or 19.5 Michigans.

It turns out Michigan beats several European countries in terms of total installed wind-electric capacity. Referring to the European Wind Energy Association report mentioned earlier, let's start at the bottom by listing those countries having the smallest installed capacities: Slovakia (3 MW or 2.3 percent of Michigan), Romania (10 MW or 7.8 percent of Michigan), Russia (11 MW or 8.5 percent of Michigan), Switzerland (14 MW or 10.9 percent of Michigan), Croatia (18 MW or 14 percent of Michigan), Latvia (27 MW or 20.9 percent of Michigan), Luxembourg (35 MW or 27.1 percent of Michigan), Lithuania (54 MW or 41.9 percent of Michigan), Estonia (78 MW or 60.5 percent of Michigan), Ukraine (90 MW or 70 percent of Michigan), and Hungary (127 MW or 98.4 percent of Michigan).

Several countries have larger installed capacities than Michigan. For example, at the end of 2008, the Czech Republic had 150 MW of installed capacity or 1.16 Michigans. Bulgaria did slightly better: In 2008, Bulgaria's installed capacity tripled to 158 MW or 1.2 Michigans. Belgium's installed capacity is 384 MW - just about 3 Michigans. In 2008, Turkey's installed capacity tripled to 433 MW or 3.36 Michigans. Norway is comparable at 428 MW or 3.32 Michigans.

Poland did a little better: in 2008, its capacity doubled to 472 MW or 3.66 Michigans. Greece did much better: a total of 985 MW or 7.64 Michigans by the end of 2008. Austria did slightly better: 995 MW or 7.7 Michigans of installed capacity. Next on the list is Sweden at 1,021 MW or 7.92 Michigans. The Netherlands is at 2,225 MW or 17.25 Michigans. Denmark is at 3,180 MW or 24.65 Michigans.

Now have a look at the United Kingdom: In 2008, it added 836 MW (6.5 Michigans), bringing the installed capacity to a whopping 3,241 MW (25.1 Michigans). France did better: In 2008, France added 950 MW (7.36 Michigans), bringing their total installed capacity to 3,404 MW (26.38 Michigans). Italy did better: in 2008, they added 1,010 MW (7.82 Michigans), bringing their total installed capacity to 3,736 MW (28.96 Michigans).

It turns out Germany and Spain are battling over the top spot. In 2008, Germany had a narrow lead, installing 1,665 MW (12.9 Michigans) in that year. In contrast, Spain installed slightly less (1,609 MW or 12.47 Michigans) in that same year. At the end of 2008, Germany had a total of 23,903 MW of installed capacity (185.3 Michigans), whereas Spain's total was 16,740 MW (129.77 Michigans).

For a more thorough analysis, the reader is encouraged to read the report of the European Wind Energy Association mentioned above. The report goes into much more detail, breaking down historical installation and power-production data in convenient formats; for example, one format is according to the amount of on-shore versus off-shore wind farm capacity in each country.



By Chris Schilling | for Mid-Michigan Business Review