"Energy is at the heart of human well-being, and yet the CO2 emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels are contributing to the serious threat of climate change. There is increasing urgency to switch to low-carbon and carbon-free energy. Renewable energy will undoubtedly play a major role in the future.

Not only does renewable energy save greenhouse gas emissions, it also saves costly imports of fossil fuels. In a world of increasing demand for energy, of high oil and gas prices, investment in renewable energy is a wise choice. As the world needs more renewable energy, those with the best technologies and know-how will have new manufacturing opportunities that will sustain jobs.

For the moment, many renewable energy technologies cost more than technologies to produce energy from fossil fuels. This is why renewable energy production still needs support. This is why there needs to be specific targets for renewable energy. However, these higher costs will fall as technology advances, and as wider deployment captures economies of scale. This has already been shown to be true for wind energy. Wind, hydro-electricity and biomasss have great further potential and are much closer to being competitive.

The Commission's proposal for a comprehensive renewable energy Directive puts in place a framework for the promotion and future development of renewable energy on a European scale. I am confident that with this Directive, we will be able to meet the ambitious renewable energy targets that the EU has set for itself in 2020."

Andris Piebalgs, EU Energy Commissioner, Conference Chair

"Energy is essential for Europe to function. The challenges of climate change, energy security and rising energy prices are faced by all EU members, big and small, old and new alike. We must seize the opportunity presented by the EU 2020 renewables target and turn this fresh political will into tangible action. If we are to successfully combat global warming, limit our dependency on fuel imports, promote jobs and growth, and provide secure and aff ordable energy to all consumers, we must address the many obstacles currently facing the renewables sector.

EWEC 2008 will play a key role in providing input to the forthcoming legislation on renewables. The importance of wind energy – as the most developed renewable energy source – to achieving the 20% target cannot be underestimated. If wind power is to provide 12% of electricity by 2020, a range of barriers will have to be comprehensively addressed by all stakeholders. These include infrastructure constraints, costs, off shore developments, legislative and administrative burdens, research and innovation, public acceptance and supply chain issues.

There are big steps to be taken, and they cannot be taken alone. Such obstacles cannot be overcome by isolated actions or individual actors, but must be tackled by working together – across state boundaries, sectoral divisions and political ideologies. The target has been set: now the time has come for concerted action.

Arthouros Zervos, President, European Wind Energy Association (EWEA)