04.11.2003 - Umwelt Magazin, Germany

Bad wind year 2003

The poor season for wind farms in Germany this year has continued into September. According to the economic forum IWR (International Economic Forum for Renewable Energies), wind farm production of electricity for the first nine months of 2003 is significantly below normal values for the last ten years. The IWR’s index shows a drop of 14.3% for offshore production up till the end of September, and a fall of 16.4% for inland production in the north-west.

“It’s already clear that 2003 will remain in the memory of producers as a year of reduced turnover,” said M. Allnoch, chairman of IWR. These figures also contradict the assurances of several politicians that wind energy is simply a way of making money, with no risks and the ability to achieve constant high yields.