Copenhagen: Our Climate Our Economy

This post is part of the Wind power series.

After showing pictures of offshore wind turbine foundations in this story, I am pleased to be able to now post pictures of the above-the-water parts, before their installation at sea: more »

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The good news just came this morning: the US wind industry shattered all records in 2009, coming within a whisper of installing 10 GW (10,000 MW) in the year, up 18% from what was already a record year. Total installed capacity went up from 25 GW from 35 GW, i.e. up 40% With similarly strong numbers expected out of China, and Europe's soon-to-be-announced but expected-to-be-decent numbers (with strong news on the offshore front), this is really upbeat news - and it is relevant to Europe as a large chunk of turbine manufacturing globally is still done in Europe, and volatile US demand has made life difficult for turbine manufacturers in the past.

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2009 marks the third year of industrialisation and growth for the nascent offshore wind sector, with a lot more to come:

Source: EWEA - The European offshore wind industry
key trends and statistics 2009 (PDF)

With just under 600MW installed in 2009, this is just under 10% of the wind capacity built in Europe in the year, but it's a sign of things to come as 3.5GW are already in construction and another 16GW are fully permitted.

More below [with specific comments on the US situation added]. Part of the Wind power series.

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Gladys Brache of the Sierra Leone Labour Congress spoke to an International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) meeting held in Copenhagen to coincide with the COP15 climate summit about the very minimal things her war-torn nation needed in order to build a functioning society, mainly coming down to education and technolo more »

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It has been a long tough day filled with rumors in Copenhagen. President Lula of Brazil gave an inspirational speech that potentially broke new ground on the transparency issues while offering to forgo receiving funds from the financing mechanism and offering instead to contribute. He said he was hoping for a miracle. Lula was followed by President Obama. more »

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The heads of state have arrived. We are waiting for President Obama to speak. Inside the Bella Center the exhibit booth hall is quiet with some beginning to pack up. The booths of many of the activist civil society groups were cleared out Wednesday night as the restrictions on NGO groups took hold. They left a stark message behind, a silhouette of a head with tape crossed across the mouth and a poster below saying “How can you decide about us without us.” more »

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Can you imagine a union leader talking about the end of a major, historical industry in their country and their not seeming to mind it? Well, I did see that here in Copenhagen and it well and truly blew my mind. more »

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Thursday morning found Copenhagen bitterly cold with a cutting wind and covered in snow …much like the negotiations and the feelings of civil society. The Bella Center is on lockdown mode with heads of state and elected governmental leaders arriving. Civil society (unions and other non-governmental organizations) representation has been cut to 300 out of the more than 10,000 in town. more »

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Clean Energy Jobs Go Home: $30 Billion to put 4.5 Million to Work

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Stall, confusion and indecision reign in the UNFCC COP15 summit in Copenhagen according to negotiators for both developed and developing nations, with the possible exception of the REDD+ agreements, which are intended to reimburse poorer countries for preserving existing forests. more »

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