Huge Success for European Offshore Wind 2009
European Offshore Wind 2009 conference and exhibition – the world’s largest gathering of offshore wind energy professionals took place in Stockholm from 14 – 16 September. The event, organized by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), was hailed a huge success, doubling in size from its previous edition in 2007. Over 4,800 participants saw more than 270 exhibitors from across the industry, including the world’s foremost manufacturers, developers, power generators, constructors, engineers and utilities. The conference featured 23 sessions and some 500 presentations covering all aspects of offshore wind. More than one hundred organizations signed a declaration pledging their commitment to offshore wind energy and calling on EU decision makers and national governments to put the right policies in place to help develop the sector. EWEA also presented the EU and governments with a twenty-year offshore grid development plan to build on the eleven grids already in place and the 21 currently under study. EWEA proposes eight additional offshore grids by 2020 and six more by 2030. The next European Offshore Wind conference will be held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands in 2011.