As the world’s energy mix is being reshaped, a significant milestone has been achieved: Vestas has reached an installed global capacity of 50GW of wind energy, a result of years of hard work with our customers and partners, and a significant milestone for the maturing wind industry.
Fifty GW amounts to more than 46,000 turbines, close to a fifth of total global capacity, and generates enough clean energy to power 19 million European households, saving the world from 55 million tonnes of CO2 emissions every year.
Reaching 50GW has only been possible through the commitment and vision Vestas employees has shown in collaboration with our customers, suppliers and investors over the last 30 years.
The threshold was passed in the first quarter of 2012, with the completion of the Knäred wind project in Laholm Municipality in Southern Sweden. Knäred is a 20MW project from Vestas key account E.ON, and features 10 V90-2.0MW turbines which provide enough energy for approximately 10,000 Swedish households.
“Renewables are a cornerstone of E.ON’s business strategy” says Mark Porter, E.ON’s Onshore Director for Northern Europe. “We have invested over EUR7 billion in renewables during the past five years and we will invest a further EUR7 billion over the next five years. Knäred is an excellent example of our focus on delivering high quality onshore wind farms”.
Driven by innovation
Vestas CEO Ditlev Engel says the 50GW milestone clearly demonstrates the capability and maturity of the wind industry.
“When the wind industry kicked off over thirty years ago, no one could have predicted the speed of the tremendous technological breakthroughs which drove the growth of Vestas and the wind energy industry overall,” he says. “The wind industry today provides a sustainable, reliable and competitive energy source for millions of people around the world. Vestas is proud to have been an industry pioneer, and to have put over thirty years of our knowledge, experience and passion into reaching an installed base of 50GW that are making a real difference for our planet and its people.”
“On behalf of everyone at Vestas I want to say thank you to our customers, suppliers, investors and everyone who has worked together with us to reach this historic milestone.”
From the late 1970s, when Vestas started to produce wind turbines, wind energy has gone from being perceived as an alternative energy source to a mainstream energy and part of the modern energy mix. The output of wind turbines has increased substantially as technological innovations have driven increases in productivity and reliability. Wind energy has steadily become increasingly competitive with fossil fuels as the entire industry works to bring down the cost of energy for customers.
During 2011, Vestas delivered wind turbines to its 69th country, reflecting the expanding global scope of wind energy and the shift in government policy to encourage clean renewable energy and the jobs and investment it generates.
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Offshore WIND staff, April 23, 2012; Image: vestas