Denmark has pioneered wind power for commercial use over the last three decades — today the European country produces almost half of the world’s wind turbines. During a three-hour tour of the Middelgrunden Wind Farm off the coast of Copenhagen, Circle of Blue caught up with political and business leaders, such as Anders Soe-Jensen President of Wind Systems A/S, who are interested in expanding this alternative energy sector.
It’s an enormous industry and it’s increased dramatically — 30 to 40 percent on average the last four years,” Christian Kjaer, the CEO of European Wind Energy Association, told Circle of Blue. Kjaer added that wind energy generates the same levels of energy as nuclear, though the latter has taken longer to reach its current production levels.
Meanwhile, U.S. politician Thomas Strickland, who serves as Interior Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, stressed that sustainable development strategies, like wind power, can lead to increased job opportunities.
Currently, there are wind projects totaling 33,000 MW under construction now, 22,000 of which are in China alone. Almost 29,000 MW of wind power are currently generated in the United States as of April 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.