Tuesday Focus | Climate Report
Wind exports set record

By The Copenhagen Post
Published 03.06.08 00:00

Last year was a banner one for wind turbine companies which saw record sales abroad, but the industry must hire more engineers to remain on course
Wind energy is on its way to becoming the country's largest industry, with exports in 2007 totalling 34.9 billion kroner - 6.7 percent of Denmark's total export income, according to the Danish Wind Industry Association's newly released annual report.
Showing a growth from of 30.7 percent from 2006 to last year, predictions are that the industry will continue to flourish and soon become the nation's most profitable export.
'With the 2007 figures, the Danish wind turbine industry is already the largest exporter of energy technology by far,' Jakob Lau Holst, DWIA's managing director, said on the organisation's website. 'And all prognoses show that the market for sustainable energy and wind power will continue to increase to the benefit of Danish manufacturers and distributors.'
Although DWIA's main sponsors, Vestas and Siemens, are responsible for a considerable portion of the export sales, hundreds of smaller Danish companies - particularly parts manufacturers - are a huge part of that success story and have subsequently become major players on the global wind power market.
Since 2004, most of the Danish wind industry's growth has taken place abroad. One reason is because Denmark already employs a large number of wind turbines, but also because the machines have not been an attractive investment here of late.
Still, the wind power industry did not stand still domestically, and figures for 2007 showed a 28.8 percent growth within the country's borders - a sales increase of 9.4 billion kroner.

But if Denmark is to remain the world's wind power king, Holst said there are certain areas that must be improved.
'If we're going to be the leading technological centre for wind power in the next five years, then it requires that we are able to build, test and develop wind turbines within Denmark,' said Holst. 'Because of the lack of wind turbine construction in the country over the past few years, manufacturers have had to invite their international customers to Norway and the Baltic states to show their latest products.'
Another area where Denmark must improve for the industry to continue booming is within the workforce where, according to DWIA's annual report, 'the labour shortage is generally a problem for the industry'.
The report added: 'The need for engineers is especially acute and is probably the toughest barrier for the industry maintaining its continued growth and increased profits and exports.'