Wind Energy Jobs to Double by 2020 - New EWEA Study

Brussels (ots/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

Rückfragehinweis:
For more information please contact Isabelle Valentiny, T:
+32-2-546-19-81, M: +32-474-54-20-25

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