The European Wind Energy Association Sends an Open Letter to the French Energy Minister

Brussels (ots/PRNewswire) - In the light of the upcoming
Energy Council meeting this Friday 10 October, the European Wind
Energy Association (EWEA) has sent an open letter to French Energy
Minister Borloo.

EWEA expresses its concern about a proposed 'review clause' in
the Renewable Energy Directive, and underlines the importance of
priority grid access for renewables. The letter also addresses some
of the other key issues on the table, such as the internal
electricity market, grid integration and EU competitiveness.

A 'review clause' is currently being debated in Council as part
of the Renewable Energy Directive. The clause would introduce a
review, in 2014, of whether the flexibility mechanisms were ensuring
that the Member States were meeting their targets. This could
undermine stable national support mechanisms, market stability and
investor certainty, as well as discourage Member States from ensuring
adequate domestic investments before the results of such a review
were known.

EWEA considers it vitally important that renewables are
integrated into the EU grid system in a timely manner, and in the
quantities necessary to meet the EU target. It supports the European
Commission's proposal on grids and urges the Council to maintain it.
The Commission proposal would ensure that Member States take all the
necessary steps to develop grid infrastructure, and that renewables
were granted priority grid access and priority grid connection. It
would also have guaranteed renewables effective priority during
dispatch - if this is not upheld by the Council, existing EU
legislation will be weakened. Fair grid access is a minimum
requirement if the EU is to meet its 20% targets for renewables by
2020.

In its letter, EWEA points out that wind energy contributes to
all three key objectives of the EU's energy policy, namely reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, improving the competitiveness of Europe and
ensuring security of supply.

EWEA explains that in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, 328
million tonnes of CO2 - equivalent to taking 165 million cars off the
roads - would be avoided if the installed wind energy in 2020 met 12%
of EU electricity demand, as suggested by the European Commission.

Wind energy is a cost-efficient option, EWEA stresses. Wind
turbines do not consume fuel, and their operation and maintenance
costs are low. Moreover, wind power squeezes out the most expensive
and polluting generating technology at any point in time, thus
decreasing the overall electricity price.

Furthermore, wind is indigenous and reduces the need for reliance
on fuel imports from third countries at unpredictable costs. Europe
currently imports 56% of its energy and is on track to reach 70% in
the next 20 to 30 years. The continent's annual gas import bill alone
is already EUR50 billion higher today than when the oil price was $20
per barrel a few years ago.

To see the full letter, click http://www.ewea.org

To find out more about EWEA, click here (http://www.ewea.org/)

Contacts: Isabelle Valentiny / Paolo Berrino, tel:
+32-2-400-10-55 / communication@ewea.org

ots Originaltext: European Wind Energy Association (EWEA)
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Contacts: Isabelle Valentiny / Paolo Berrino, tel: +32-2-400-10-55 /
communication@ewea.org