Portuguese secretary of state for energy Artur Trindade will today call on EU heads of state and government to set ambitious targets for 2030 including a 40% renewable energy target and a target for grid infrastructure.
 
Ambitious targets are the only way of ensuring green growth in leading European industries such as the wind power sector continues, he will say when he addresses the opening session of the European Wind Energy Association's (EWEA) 2014 Annual Event in Barcelona this afternoon.
 
Wind energy also allows countries to become less dependent on fossil fuels - a new EWEA report, to be launched at the event today, reveals that in 2012, the EU spent three times the cost of the Greek bailout on fossil fuel imports.
 
EU heads of state and government will meet on 20-21 March to discuss the European Commission's 2030 climate and energy framework proposal, which contains an unambitious renewables target of 27%. A more ambitious 30% target would create 568,000 more jobs and save EUR260,000 in fossil fuel imports.
 
International Energy Agency executive director Maria van den Hoeven will also speak at the EWEA Annual Event opening session, as will conference chair and managing director of wind turbine manufacturer ENERCON, Hans-Dieter Kettwig.
 
More information and read EWEA's new report (from 14:00 CET): www.ewea.org/annual2014 

For more information:
Sarah Azau, EWEA
sarah.azau@ewea.org
Tel: +32 2 213 18 38