North American Windpower
China’s overtaking the European Union (EU) for total installed wind energy capacity in 2015 is a wakeup call for EU policymakers, says the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).
According to statistics from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), China installed almost three times as much wind than the EU did. China and the EU now have 145 GW and 142 GW of total installed capacity, respectively, says EWEA.
Calling it a “watershed moment,” Giles Dickson, CEO of EWEA, says, “It sends a powerful message to policymakers: If Europe really wants to be No. 1 in renewables, it needs to get its act together. We need a clear EU vision for renewables beyond 2020 – and great ambition and clarity from individual member states.”
In October 2014, the European Council set a target for the EU to meet at least 27% of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030.
