The importance of offshore wind is going to increase dramatically in the near future, with projects located in ever more challenging environments and in higher numbers. These ambitious projects offer great benefits, and, if the risks can be foreseen and managed, they will provide us with a safe, clean and viable source of energy in the future. In this issue we publish two articles addressing this topic.

As I write this note, the third European Offshore Wind (EOW) event (organised by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA)) has just taken place. The venue was Stockholm, and the event took place alongside the annual Swedish wind conference, VIND2009. The event was a great success, with more than 4,000 participants attending. There were 300 presentations, 23 sessions and 260 exhibitors offering a range of services and solutions in the fast-expanding offshore wind market.

From 14 to 16 September, over 1,000 representatives of the offshore wind industry, policy makers and energy specialists will gather in Stockholm to explore and discuss the future of offshore wind energy during the third biennial European Offshore Wind Conference and Exhibition. Organised by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), the EOW2009 will debate the future of offshore development in Europe.

Wind Power Works

In 2009 the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), which initiated the Wind Day campaign, joined forces with the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) in order to coordinate the first Global Wind Day. This year, on 15 June 2009, thousands of public events were organised simultaneously across 25 countries worldwide. The Global Wind Day is an awareness campaign for the promotion of wind energy worldwide. The message is global: wind power works, it tackles climate change, it reduces energy dependence on fossil fuels, and it is an intelligent investment. I would add to this that it also helps stimulating the economy in these times.