EU wind power seen steady in 2009 despite crisis

Two wind turbines are pictured in Martigny, in Southern Switzerland, August 7, 2009.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Europe looks set to build slightly more wind capacity this year than in 2008, despite weakening electricity demand due to the economic crisis, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) said on Friday.

About 8,600 megawatts of new wind energy capacity will be installed in the European Union's 27 nations in 2009, 1 percent higher than the 8,484 megawatts installed last year, EWEA estimated.

"Although the outlook for 2009 is encouraging, the real test of the wind energy sector's ability to withstand the financial crisis will be 2010," said Christian Kjaer, EWEA chief executive.

EWEA expects the financial crisis to have a deeper impact in 2010 due to poor liquidity in the loan markets.

New wind installations will take the EU's cumulative capacity to 73,535 megawatts this year, up from 64,935 megawatts last year.

(Reporting by Pete Harrison; Editing by Keiron Henderson)