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- Category: Publishers Note
Will the market be on the way up again?
2010 was a relatively good year for the wind industry, although there are differences between continents/countries. The numbers posted by the US wind industry in the third quarter of 2010 made for its slowest quarter since 2007. Once the year's final numbers are tallied, they are expected to show that China installed approximately three times as much wind-powered electricity as the USA in 2010, and Europe twice as much, as US installations fell to just over half of 2009. Factors in the US decline included an absence of long-term US energy policies (such as a Renewable Electricity Standard), resulting in an unstable business environment, and utilities being less eager to enter wind energy power purchase agreements. Good news from the USA is that Congress passed a major tax-cut deal that included a one-year extension of the incentive program for renewable energy projects. The Bill, which otherwise would have expired at the end of the year 2010, was signed by Barack Obama on 17 December 2010. This means many projects that were hanging in the balance will now be approved by integrators, investors and companies. The Treasury program 1603, which covers up to 30% of the cost of alternative energy projects, has supported more than 100,000 jobs and US$ 18 billion in investment for thousands of installations. The year 2010 saw a growth in solar and wind projects because of 1603. During a down economy 1603 was instrumental in bringing many new jobs to the US economy.
- Category: Publishers Note
Vertical Integration in Offshore Wind
Led by European utilities, offshore wind has emerged from a niche market to one of the largest opportunities for growth in the global wind industry. The global offshore wind market, which is expected to install nearly 43GW by 2020, has recently accumulated turbine orders exceeding 6GW, covering demand through 2013. Europe is set to lead global offshore expansion, with around 76% of the global offshore wind installed between now and 2020.- Category: Publishers Note
Maturing Technology, Maintenance and New Innovations
Since the start of Windtech International we have given a lot of attention to new, emerging technologies, of which several are entering a more mature stage. One of these technologies is lidar for wind measurement. Just a few years ago there was only one supplier of this kind of device. Nowadays there are at least five. Recently NRG Systems and Leosphere introduced their second generation lidar, the WINDCUBE v2. While measuring at heights up to 200 metres, the size and weight of the WINDCUBE v2 have been dramatically reduced to 1 metre square and 45 kilograms – a size that can be carried by two people and transported in a small car. In addition, the low power consumption of the unit (45 watts nominal) means it can run off a single fuel cell in many climate regimes. And, with access to Iridium satellite and 3G cellular services, users can access and monitor their data in real time, anywhere in the world. Most importantly, the simplified design of the WINDCUBE v2 and use of solid state technologies avoids the need for internal moving parts and makes the unit much easier to maintain. In the article on page 7 the authors Matthieu Boquet from Leosphere SAS and Evan Osler from NRG Systems talk about reducing uncertainty and cost with lidar remote sensing and the WINDCUBE v2.- Category: Publishers Note
Husum’s Growth Continues
The 2010 HUSUM WindEnergy and its accompanying trade symposia will take place between 21 and 25 September. Wind energy will continue to grow in importance as an economic factor, playing an increasing part in diversifying Europe’s electricity supply and helping efforts to combat climate change. Installed capacity is expected to increase by several times in the next 20 years. This growth is reflected by the size of this year’s event. Exhibition space has been expanded from 30,000m2 (2008) to about 43,000m2 in 2010 and the exhibitors are showing their products and services in six halls. Besides that, this year the congress will be held in the new 4,500m2 congress and event centre. The organisation is expecting around 950 exhibitors and 25,000 visitors from 70 nations, continuing the success and enjoyment of past exhibitions. I wish everybody a successful show and I hope to see many of you in Husum.- Category: Publishers Note
Windpower 2010 in the Lone Star State
The AWEA’s annual report, released in April, contains facts and figures that show that the American wind power industry has come through the recession in good health and expecting great things in the future. That the US market is doing better was also noticeable at AWEA’s annual event Windpower 2010, held from 23 to 26 May in Dallas, Texas.- Category: Publishers Note
Despite the air traffic disruptions EWEC 2010 was successful
Players in the wind energy business from all over Europe met in Warsaw, Poland, from 20 till 23 April at the European Wind Energy Conference (EWEC) organised by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). Due to the ash cloud from Iceland many people had difficulties to arrive in Warsaw for this annual event. According to EWEA a quarter of the registered conference delegates were not able to attend this year. Still 3000 people showed up in Warsaw and from the people that were not able to come 1,400 watched the live online conference videos. From the exhibitors only 30 were not able to get to Warsaw mostly companies from the US and Asia. The conference program was also a little bit affected by the air traffic disruption but 80% of the sessions went ahead.- Category: Publishers Note
Power America Forward
After one of the coldest winters in the northern hemisphere for many years, and with the price of oil beginning its inexorable rise again, the wind power industry can look forward to the future with renewed confidence. It is perhaps significant that one of the many facts to emerge from the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) annual report is that Texas, the state that remains at the heart of the world oil business, is also the state with the greatest installed wind capacity and is home to the largest wind farms. Clearly, the Lone Star state has seen the future and is setting out towards it with its customary vigour, which is why Dallas is a logical place to hold the Windpower 2010 Conference and Exhibition (23 to 26 May).
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