World Wind Energy Association
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The World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) is an international non-profit association representing the wind power sector worldwide, with members in 100 countries, amongst them the leading national and regional wind energy associations. The organisation works for the promotion and worldwide deployment of wind energy technology and advocates a future energy system based on renewable energy.
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| Type | NGO |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 in Denmark |
| Headquarters | Bonn, Germany |
| Key people |
Dr He Dexin, President; Stefan Gsänger, Secretary General; Dr Preben Maegaard, President Emeritus; Dr Anil Kane, President Emeritus; The Hon Peter Rae, Special Amabassador |
Contents |
History
The World Wind Energy Association WWEA was founded in 20011 as an international organisation for the worldwide promotion of wind energy and represents a broad spectrum of the wind sector.
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 500 members in 100 countries from all continents (as of June 2011).
Organisational Structure
WWEA is governed by a board currently consisting of the President Dr. He Dexin, China, 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. Since 2003, it has supported the initiative to establish an International Renewable Energy Agency IRENA which was founded in Bonn on 26 January 2009.
WWEA is a founding member of International Renewable Energy Alliance (IREA), consisting of the International Hydropower Association (IHA), the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), the International Geothermal Association (IGA) and since June 2009 the World Bioenergy Association (WBA). 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 (WWEC)
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 6–8 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 took 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)
The WWEC2009 was organised together with the Korean Wind Energy Association on Jeju Island, South Korea, from 23–25 June 2009.
The WWEC2010 was held in Istanbul/Turkey from 15–17 June 2010 under the theme "Large-scale integration of wind power".
The WWEC2011 was held in Cairo/Egypt from 31 October - 2 November 2011 under the theme "Greening Energy: Converting Deserts into Power Houses". (www.wwec2011.net)
The WWEC2012 will be held in Bonn/Germany from 3–5 July 2012 under the theme "Community Power – Citizens' Power". (www.wwec2012.net)
See also
- List of notable renewable energy organizations
- Global Wind Energy Council
- European Wind Energy Association
- American Wind Energy Association