European Parliament votes to create wind energy budget

Although the first budget for 2012 is a symbolic €1 million, it creates a precedent to a dedicated financial allocation to wind energy research in the forthcoming 2014-2020 multi-annual financial framework.

"We hope that the EU will now go forward with its support for wind energy research and development and allocate a total of €1.3 billion from 2014-2020," said European Wind Energy Association regulatory affairs advisor Vilma Radvilaite.

The budget line for 2012 would be in addition to approximately €24 million that should be allocated to wind energy research in 2012 under the FP7 Programme.