Publication date: February 2004
Summary
Sea Wind Europe is a report commissioned by Greenpeace from respected international energy consultants Garrad Hassan. It concludes that almost a third of Europe's total electricity demand could be met solely from clean, renewable offshore wind power by 2020. That's enough to supply electricity to every single one of the 150 million EU households. These conclusions confirm that the full range of renewable energy technologies combined with energy efficiency, offer clean, safe and effective solutions to both climate change and energy security, now.
In the process:
- Up to 3 million jobs would be created.
- A market for European industry worth hundreds of millions of Euros would be created.
- Declining industries and many deprived industrial regions would stand to benefit the most, with the manufacturing, steel and offshore engineering sectors heading the list.
- The electricity produced would be cheaper than nuclear power and coal.
The report recommends key policy measures that would be needed to achieve the development, starting with a clear statement of vision from the European Union through, for example, an ambitious EU renewable energy target for 2020.
Based on the report Greenpeace is calling for the European Member States to commit to setting a renewable energy target of at least 20% for 2020 at the June 2004 International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn.
Download the Sea Wind Europe report for web (4.6Mb) or for print (26Mb)
Download the full media briefing
