Wind Energy Jobs to Double By 2020 - New EWEA
Study
BRUSSELS, January 20 /PRNewswire/
The European wind energy sector has created 33 new jobs every day for the
past five years, journalists attending the launch of a new report from the
European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) heard today. According to the
report, entitled, 'Wind at Work - wind energy and job creation in the EU',
jobs in wind energy will more than double from 154,000 to 325,000 by 2020.
In 2007, wind energy increased more than any other power generating
technology in the EU. The growth in installed wind capacity has been matched
by an increase in related jobs. According to 'Wind at Work', the sector
employed 154,000 people in 2007 - 108,600 in direct jobs and the rest
indirectly.
In terms of job profiles, the report shows that turbine manufacturers are
the main employers, with 37% of all direct jobs, followed by component
manufacturers and project developers. Where the Member States are concerned,
currently 75% of all direct wind energy jobs are to be found in the three
'pioneer' countries of Denmark, Germany and Spain, but other countries, such
as France, the UK and Italy are now beginning to catch up.
"'Wind at Work' reveals the vast potential of the wind energy industry as a
source of employment that can bring real long-term benefits to European
economies," said Christian Kjaer, EWEA Chief Executive.
Journalists who came to the press launch, held at Pauwels International in
Belgium - a company that specialises in making transformers for wind
turbines - were able to ask questions of Kjaer and Francis Robberechts, Vice
President of CG Power EMEA. They were then taken on an exclusive tour of the
Pauwels factory to see an example of direct jobs in the sector.
Robberechts spoke of the importance of the wind energy sector for his
company. "Wind energy is an important contributor to Pauwels' workforce -
20-30% of the 1,000 employees at our Belgium site are engaged on long-term
wind energy projects," he said.
Wind energy can give a huge boost to economic welfare, offering greater
energy independence, lower energy costs, reduced fuel price risks, improved
competitiveness, technology exports and new jobs. 'Wind at Work' focuses on
just one of the many economic benefits of the industry, revealing the full
extent of the effect that supporting and developing wind energy has on
employment in the EU.
To download the report, go to http://www.ewea.org/index.php?id=178
http://www.ewea.org/
European Wind Energy Association (EWEA)
CONTACT: For more information please contact Isabelle Valentiny,
T:+32-2-546-19-81, M: +32-474-54-20-25
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