European Wind Power Development, Factors That Influenced Change and What Can Be Learned.

Abstract: The success of wind power integration throughout Europe has been largely varied with some European countries showing large boosts in capacity compared to some which show none at all.  This Thesis looks at those countries that have been successful in order to determine which factors have led to this success and what if any lessons can be learned in order to assist other countries.  The countries studied make up the top three for total wind power capacity and top three for total capacity per capita.  The surrounding elements that affect wind power development are assessed and relevant trends are investigated and discussed.  Factors such as, support instruments and overall governance are discussed in detail with a number of trends being found.  Calculations were conducted developing an average mean annual percentage increase for total capacity which showed that countries with an undeveloped wind power industry switching to a form of quota system could show a boost to total capacity.  No evidence was found that suggested switching to or changing an existing feed in tariff system would result in a boost in installed capacity.  In assessing governance, a trend was discovered showing obligations and targets helped to drive boosts in capacity especially for the countries who implemented a quota system. Brining these two trends together it was determined that strong top level governance was required to actually kick start boosts in total capacity.  The use of combinations of support schemes is assessed and a trend determined that suggests that use a quota system as a primary support scheme is better suited to having tax incentives as a secondary with feed in tariff systems having financial support as a secondary system.  A plan for developing wind power in countries with undeveloped wind power industries is developed based on the trends identified within the Thesis.  This suggests that a switch to a quota system combined with strong EU and national Governance could help to boost capacity to a point at which time a switch to a form of FIT would be beneficial to build on this steady base.