Wind energy| Political context |
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The International Context The degradation of the world’s environment was officially recognized for the first time at the Rio de Janeiro summit conference, in 1992. For the first time the international community committed itself to take some measures to insure the protection of the environment. The Kyoto summit conference in 1997 validated a series of measures destined to slow down the climatic changes brought about by the emission of greenhouse gases. This was translated by an objective to reduce these emissions of 7% in Europe, 8% in the United States and 6% for Japan and Canada by the end of 2010. In spite of the opposition of the United States, the Kyoto protocol was validated by the agreements of Bonn (2001) and Johannesburg (2002). The European Union decided to share this effort between the countries involved, according to their degree of emission. The Context and the French Objectives Energy Policies France, with an objective to reduce 20% of its emissions, is committed to producing 21% of renewable electricity in 2010 (the European directive dated, 27th September 2001) The Law of Energy Orientation (LOE) dated 13th July 2005 fixes more precisely the energy policy for all sectors, and defines the objectives in terms of renewable energy development. In the light of this policy which actively aims to fight climate changes, improve the long term security of energy provisions, in terms of stock levels, and in the of local and sustainable economic development projects, the Grenelle Forum was the opportunity for the French government to reiterate the need to develop renewable energy sources in order to meet the 2020 targets of 20% of total energy consumption. The role of wind energy Holder of the second wind potential in Europe, France is going to use this resource to reach its objectives. Following the LOE and the Pluriannual Investment Programme approved by the French Parliament, the decree dated the 10th of July 2006 has determined the development of each area of energy production for 2010 and 2015. For the wind industry, the objective is the installation of 13 500 MW in 2010, then 17 000 MW in 2015. On the 31st December 2007, the installed wind power was only 2500 MW... The objective fixed by the Grenelle Forum should accelerate the development of the wind industry: by 2020, 25 000 MW should be installed, producing the equivalent of 10% of the French electricity consumption, otherwise said 55 terawatthours. This number corresponds to the production of 7 nuclear reactors, or that of the production the thermal power plants in France in 2007. The Ministry for the Environment and Sustainable Development in February 2008 also reiterated that "wind turbines contribute to the reduction of CO_ emissions" and reminds us that scenarios forecast by the RTE,electricity grid management network, show that "electricity produced from wind turbinse is a good substitute for that from fossil fuels". The Wind Turbine Development Zones Also created by the LOE, this trend enables the development of the French windfarm 'fleet', following the new land management policies laid out by the State and the local autorities. Based on an intiative coming from local government figures, and approved by the State, these new windfarms are created respecting the local scenery, the constraints of linking them to the grid and the local wind potential. As of the 14th July 2007, only projects which comply with these guidelines wille receive preferential prices. The ministeria decree dated 10th July 2006 modified the preferential price gude for the renewable energy industry, in order to continue their ascension. |