Utilities boost investments in offshore wind power
http://articles.marketwatch.com/2012-05-02/industries/31525657_1_offshore-wind-wind-industry-global-wind-energy-council
LONDON (MarketWatch) Electricity to power European televisions and toasters will increasingly come from energy generated at sea as utility companies shore up offshore wind-energy capacity amid rising fossil-fuel prices and political pressure.
Over the past three years, yearly installed capacity from offshore wind turbines has more than doubled in Europe to 866 megawatts in 2011, exceeding growth rates for its onshore counterpart, according to the European Wind Energy Association, or EWEA.
New onshore installations rose only 10% in the same period. Further, in 2011, new installed capacity at sea accounted for 10% of the total new installations in the European Union, up from 5% in 2008.
In the North Sea alone we have a potential to economically exploit the offshore resources to cover seven times Europes total energy consumption, said Christian Kjaer, chief executive at European Wind Energy Association. We wouldnt have to import fuel if we can tap into that.
<more>