Wind power
WIND POWER
Jobs in wind energy in Europe The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) estimates that there were 108,600 jobs directly related to wind energy in the EU-27 in 2007. Wind energy also generates indirect jobs, for example suppliers of raw materials. EWEA estimates the total number of wind energy jobs in 2007 at 154,000. This has likely grown to at least 160,000 in 2008. By 2030, more than 375,000 people should be employed directly in the sector 160,000 onshore and 215,000 offshore. |
According to the WWF, employment in the European wind has the potential to reach 329,000 jobs in 2020 and 377,000 in 2030.
Denmark, Germany and Spain - wind power pioneers
Wind energy companies are established in all nearly all EU Member States. However, 75% of the jobs in the sector are in Denmark, Germany and Spain, the three wind energy 'pioneers'. Schleswig-Holstein in Germany gets one-third of its electricity from wind and 7,000 people are directly employed by the industry.
Italy had 2,500 jobs in wind in 2007, nearly 4,500 in 2008 and could have up to 66,000 by 2020.
Wind energy
Direct employment from wind energy companies in European countries, 2007
Country | No. of direct jobs |
Austria | 700 |
Belgium | 2,000 |
Bulgaria | 100 |
Czech Republic | 100 |
Denmark | 23,500 |
Finland | 800 |
France | 7,000 |
Germany | 38,000 |
Greece | 1,800 |
Hungary | 100 |
Ireland | 1,500 |
Italy | 2,500 |
Netherlands | 2,000 |
Poland | 800 |
Portugal | 800 |
Spain | 20,500 |
Sweden | 2,000 |
United Kingdom | 4,000 |
Rest of EU | 400 |
Total direct employment (manufacturing) | 108,600 |
Total indirect employment (manufacturing) | 45,400 |
Total direct + indirect employment (manufacturing) | 154,000 |
Installation (EU 25) | 27,400 |
Maintenance (EU 25) | 16,100 |
Total | 197,500 |
Published in February 2009 by EWEA.
Sources: EWEA survey; ADEME, 2008; AEE, 2008a; DWIA, 2008; Federal Ministry of the Environment in Germany, BMU 2008
