WWEA members from several CIS countries have decided to create a special working group in order to intensify their cooperation on regional issues. Recently, the WWEA Board has approved the establishment of the WWEA CIS Committee.
The leading wind energy experts from the CIS countries will concentrate their efforts, knowledge and experience to promote widespread dissemination of wind technologies in the region as well as to identify existing barriers to the creation and successful development of the wind sectors in the countries of the former Soviet Union.
The establishment of the CIS Wind Committee within the framework of WWEA will help to provide information and consultation assistance to the developing wind markets in the CIS countries through the leading wind experts from within and outside the region.
In particular, the CIS Committee will conduct with the following activities:
· Support the wind development in the CIS countries and foster legal frameworks and policies for wind power
· Enhance the exchange of information amongst the CIS wind community
· Continue cooperation with the annual conference CISWIND: www.ciswind.com or www.ciswind.com
· Annual update overview of the wind energy status in the CIS countries
· Participation in further international events
· Gather expertise of the strategic wind projects being under discussion in the CIS countries.
At time being organisations representing eight countries of the former USSR have already agreed to participate in the CIS wind committee activities, namely: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Tajikistan and Ukraine.
Andrei Konechenkov, Chairman of Ukrainian Wind Energy Association, member of the Board of WWEA, and founding chair of the WWEA CIS Wind Committee: “ Energy policies of the former Soviet Union countries for many years have been fossil fuel-oriented. Modern wind technologies have proved viability and advantages of such local renewable resource of energy as wind. Wind technologies create new jobs and set up new manufactures, contribute to the national economy and improve living standards of people”.
Stefan Gsänger, WWEA Secretary General:
"The CIS countries represent a region with vast wind energy potential, practically so far untapped. We expect that the CIS Committee can contribute to overcome some of the existing barriers, such as general lack of knowledge about the benefits and potentials of wind power as well as appropriate legal frameworks."
All WWEA Members with an interest in CIS countries are invited to join the WWEA CIS Committee.