World Wind Energy Association

The World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) is an international non-profit association representing and uniting the wind power sector worldwide, with members in 90 countries, amongst them the leading national and regional wind energy associations and further members from areas such as manufacturers, suppliers, wind farm developers, NGOs, public bodies, scientific and research institutes as well as individuals. The organisation works for the promotion and worldwide deployment of wind energy technology as a cornerstone of a future energy system fully based on renewable energy.

Infobox_Company
company_name = World Wind Energy Association
company_
company_type = NGO
slogan = "Uniting the World of Wind Energy"
foundation = 2001 in Denmark
location_city = Bonn
location_country = Germany
key_people = Dr Anil Kane, President; The Hon Peter Rae, Senior Vice President; Stefan Gsänger, Secretary General
Homepage = [http://www.wwindea.org]

History

The World Wind Energy Association WWEA was founded in 2001 as an international organisation for the worldwide promotion of wind energy and represents a broad spectrum of the wind sector.

Aims

The aims of WWEA are:
* To provide a platform for the communication of all wind energy actors worldwide.
* To advise and influence national governments and international organisations.
* To enhance international technology transfer.

Membership

There are different membership categories:
* Ordinary members: wind energy associations
* Scientific members: scientific and research institutes
* Corporate members: companies and public bodies
* individual members

WWEA has 350 members in 90 countries from all continents (as of March 2008).

Organisational Structure

WWEA is governed by a board currently consisting of the President Dr. Anil Kane, India, Senior Vice President The Hon Peter Rae AO, Australia, Vice Presidents from all continents as well as the Treasurer. A complete list of the WWEA board members which represent all continents can be found on the WWEA website www.wwindea.org.

Headquarters

The WWEA Head Office is situated in Bonn, close to the UN Campus, managed by the Secretary General Stefan Gsänger.

International policy debate

WWEA is the voice supporting wind energy and other renewables at energy conferences and in the media around the world. WWEA statements like the WWEC resolutions have been taken up in international discussions and are guiding political decision-makers. WWEA also participated in the International Conference for Renewable Energies Renewables 2004 (Bonn, June 2004) and BIREC Beijing International Renewable Energy Conference 2005.

WWEA has been granted Special Consultative Status at the United Nations in the year 2007, has been accredited at the UNFCCC and cooperates with organisations like UNEP, UNESCO, UNDESA, the IEA and the World Bank. It supports the initiative to establish an International Renewable Energy Agency.

WWEA is a founding member of International Renewable Energy Alliance (IREA), consisting of the International Hydropower Association (IHA), the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) and the International Geothermal Association (IGA). WWEA cooperates with other international renewable energy organisations; for example, it is represented at the Steering Committee of the REN21 global policy network and is a member of the World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE).

World Wind Energy Conferences

WWEA organises World Wind Energy Conferences and Exhibitions (WWECs) in a different continent every year. WWECs have been held in Berlin (Germany) in 2002, Cape Town (South Africa) in 2003, and Beijing (China) in 2004. The 3rd WWEC in Beijing was attended by over 2000 participants thus becoming the biggest wind event ever held outside the EU and the US. The 4th WWEC took place in Melbourne (Australia). The 5th WWEC in New Delhi, India, from 6th-8th November 2006, had more than 900 participants. The 6th WWEC took place in Mar del Plata, ARGENTINA in October 2007, jointly organised by Argentine Wind Energy Association (AAEE) and WWEA (see www.wwec2007.org)

The 7th Special Topic "Community Power" WWEC will take place in Kingston, Ontario, CANADA, in June 2008, jointly organised by Ontario Sustainable Energy Association OSEA, St Lawrence College, Kingston (SLC) and WWEA (see www.wwec2008.com)

Publications and information

On the WWEA website, information about wind energy, international installation figures, press releases and background reports can be found. WWEA cooperates with the magazine 'New Energy' and also has a technology website www.world-wind-energy.info.

WWEA publishes books and CD-ROMs as well as the international yearbook “Wind Energy International". WWEA has worked out Sustainability and Due Diligence Guidelines for global wind developments to promote greater consideration of environmental, social and economic aspects in the development and assessment of wind projects.

See also

*List of notable renewable energy organizations
*American Wind Energy Association

References

WWEA official website http://www.wwindea.org

Further reading

World Wind Energy Information http://www.world-wind-energy.info/
Wind Power in Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power

External links

*World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) http://www.wwindea.org
*World Wind Energy Conference 2007 Argentina http://www.wwec2007.org.ar
*World Wind Energy Conference 2008 Community Power Canada http://www.wwec2008.com
*International Hydropower Association (IHA) http://www.hydropower.org/index.asp
*International Solar Energy Society (ISES) http://www.ises.org/ises.nsf!Open
*International Geothermal Association (IGA) http://iga.igg.cnr.it/index.php
*International Renewable Energy Alliance (IREA) http://www.ren-alliance.org/
*World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE) http://www.wcre.org/