why do you focus on comparing new installations only?

Because that was the focus of Jerome's diary. Jeez - is one not allowed to ask a question around here?!

For the record:  I am delighted that (despite a less optimal wind resource) the EU is so well advanced in developing its wind power and still retaining a significant if lesser share in new installations.  I am sure we would all like to see both the EU and the USA continuing to do more and accelerating the rate of growth and overcoming the technical and infrastructural obstacles to doing that.

Sustainable energy production and CO2 emissions reduction is one of the shining lights of the EU and I was disappointed to see the EU lose much of its political leadership position on the issue at Copenhagen.  I am glad that, as CH has confirmed, it is not losing its economic and technological leadership role in that area and hope it will lead to reduced use of gas and other carbon energy sources as time goes on.

I really don't see any room for complacency on this issue - we should be fighting for the EU to do better on a broader range of fronts - rather than being overly self-satisfied at what we have achieved to date.  Jerome has already written about the headwinds he faced in putting a financial deal together and there are many other factors inhibiting the development of the industry.  

Ireland, for example, has an almost incomparable wind resource but its development is being inhibited by a lack of finance, entrepreneurial activity, regulatory restraints on the national electricity supplier increasing its output, and lack of integration with a broader European electricity grid which could help to smooth out the peaks and troughs of wind power production.

Instead of arguing about how great we are, we have to do better.

notes from no w here