Wind energy: Croatia one of record-breakers, Serbia in top 10 in investments

Croatia installed 147 MW of wind power in 2017 and ended up as one of seven EU countries that had a record year in new wind energy installations. As for new asset financing in last year, with a EUR 600 million wind energy investment Serbia shared 10^th place with Norway out of 38 European countries.

Wind in power 2017, annual Wind Europe‘s report that combines onshore and offshore wind energy statistics, says that Europe installed a total of 16.8 GW wind power capacity in 2017, of which 15.7 GW was installed in the EU countries.

In total, it represents an increase of 20 percent in new wind farm installations compared to 2016 and a new record. The previous record was 12.8 GW and it was achieved in 2015.

Seven countries that hit the record last year are Germany (6.6 GW), the UK (4.3 GW), France (1.7 GW), Finland (577 MW), Belgium (476 MW), Ireland (426 MW) and Croatia (147 MW).

In 2017, wind power accounted for 55.4 percent of all new power capacity installations, significantly more than solar PV with its 6 GW or 21.5 percent, and gas with 2.6 GW.

Generated 335 TWh wind power last year covered 11,6 percent of the EU’s electricity demand.

Renewable energy as a whole accounted for nearly all new EU power installations in 2017: 24.1GW out of a total 28.5GW.

Serbia – among top 10 wind investment destinations

Last year was also a record year for new capacity financed: 11.5 GW worth of future wind farm projects reached Final Investment Decision (FID). In other words, there are EUR 22.3 billion of new investments in wind energy announced last year, which is 19 percent less than in 2016

Non-EU countries had increased investments with a total of EUR 2.9 billion. Serbia, Norway and Russia are among top 10 out of 39 monitored European countries

With EUR 600 million, Serbia shared the 10^th position with Norway.  

Cost reductions across the industry supply chain and increased competition made it possible for investors to finance more capacity for less cash, according to WindEurope’s annual onshore and offshore wind statistics.