The European wind power industry is expected to see more than half a million people working for it by 2020, increasing it’s contribution to the EU economy threefold over the same period.

This news comes courtesy of a report to be presented on Monday the 16th of April at the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) 2012 Annual Event in Copenhagen. The report — Green Growth: The Impact of Wind Energy on Jobs and The Economy — analyses the sector’s contribution to GDP and job creation now and in the future, with forecasts for 2020 and 2030.

The EWEA 2012 Annual Event will be opened in Copenhagen by the Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger, and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, with 10,000 participants expected to come.

Denmark’s Energy and Climate Minister Martin Lidegaard will chair a debate on the EU Energy Roadmap to 2030, with Presidents and Chief Executive Officers of Acciona Windpower, Dong Energy, GE Renewable Energy, Iberdrola Renewables, RES Group, Siemens, Vattenfall, and Vestas participating.

More than 100 journalists from all over the world have registered so far. The Global Wind Energy Council will publish its latest Global Market Report while Chief Executive Officers of wind energy associations from Europe, the US, China, India, Brazil, South Africa, and Japan will explain the latest wind power industry developments in their countries.