The wind turbine market continues to grow, as more and more people realize the potential of this clean, green method of generating power. Even in the recent economic recession, the wind industry is maintaining strong sales and progress, with growth/loss estimates ranging from a five to ten percent loss to a five to ten percent growth, depending on the company. New rotor models continue to be produced, offering more options for users at low and medium wind speed sites. Wind turbine technology is growing, and just keeps getting better.
Recently displayed models include Vestas new eight hundred fifty kilowatt turbine model with a sixty meter diameter rotor, Fuhrlander’s two and a half megawatt FL 2500 nacelle, and eviag AG’s W100 turbine model. Spanish company mTorres has developed an interesting new one and a half megawatt direct drive turbine that’s also available as a 1.65 MW model with several different diameters to choose from. A larger two and a half megawatt turbine is currently under development, and we expect to see a prototype for it in 2010.
Use of wind power is increasing, with capacity doubling about every three years. Currently, about eighty percent of wind power installations are located in the US and Europe. US states such as Montana, Texas, Minnesota and California are greatly increasing their generation capacity, making the United States the country to add the most wind energy to its grid in recent years. Currently, wind generates about 1% of the total electricity used in the United States.
Many European nations already rely heavily on wind generated power. Germany generates over twenty-five thousand megawatts using wind turbines, and Spain produces close to twenty thousand megawatts. Smaller installations can be found in Italy, France, the UK, Portugal and Denmark. China’s capacity is similar to Germany’s and new installations are going in all the time. India’s wind turbines are currently capable of producing over ten thousand megawatts, and the country ranks fifth in the world in terms of power capacity. These turbines are responsible for three percent of all electricity produced in India.
The high cost of installing turbines remains the biggest barrier to producing wind power on a regular basis. Not as many facilities are capable of producing the largest modern turbines and towers. The growth in wind turbine manufacturers may help drive existing costs down, however. Additionally, new models may be able to decrease the overall cost per kW, as efficiency rises.
Currently, while wind is expected to follow other businesses in troubles caused by the global financial crisis, the overall prospects are good. A BTM Consult forecast up to the year 2013 projects significant growth once the crisis is over – an expected average annual growth of a little over fifteen percent. More than two hundred gigawatts of new capacity are expected to come online before the end of that year.
New wind turbine companies are springing up all the time, and megawatt ratings for industrial turbines are rising. BARD Engineering has announced plans to scale up their five megawatt offshore turbines to six and a half megawatts, and there are rumors that Enercon is testing an eight megawatt version of their existing E-126 onshore turbine. This company currently produces one E-126 turbine per month, and plans to create more as international demand grows. These huge turbines could greatly increase wind power generation capacity.
Wind power is a viable option for replacing current dependence on fossil fuels, and the industry is growing. Growth is expected to continue over the next several years, despite setbacks caused by international financial troubles. National and local governments are realizing the benefits of wind power, and encouraging companies to build new towers and turbines. Wind power could be a big answer to our energy problems.