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BRUSSELS, Belgium, March 1, 2006 (Refocus
Weekly)
A total of 11,769 MW of wind turbines were
installed around the world last year, representing an increase of
43.4% over the 8,207 MW installed in 2004.
The value of new turbines was Euro 12 billion, estimates the
Global Wind Energy Council. Total global installed wind capacity now
stands at 59,322 MW, up 25% over the capacity in 2004.
“The overall picture confirms that the right political framework is
crucial to sustain the growth of wind power around the world and to
open new markets,” says Arthouros Zervos of GWEC. “Some 48
governments have already introduced laws and regulations to support
the development of renewable energies, but this effort needs to be
increased if the benefits of wind energy are to be reaped around the
world.”
In terms of new installed capacity, the U.S. led with 2,431 MW,
followed by Germany with 1,808 MW, Spain with 1,764 MW, India with
1,430 MW, Portugal with 500 MW and China with 498 MW of turbines.
Europe remains the leading the market with 40,500 MW of installed
capacity, or 69% of the global total. Last year, wind capacity on
that continent grew by 18%, providing 3% of the EU’s electricity
consumption.
The highest total installed capacity is Germany with 18,428 MW,
Spain with 10,027 MW, the U.S. with 9,149 MW, India with 4,430 MW
and Denmark with 3,122 MW. India surpassed Denmark as the fourth
largest wind market, and a number of other countries, including
Italy, Britain, the Netherlands, China, Japan and Portugal, have
reached the 1,000 MW mark of installed capacity.
“The European market has already reached the 2010 target set by the
European Commission of 40,000 MW, five years ahead of time,” says
Christian Kjaer of the European Wind Energy Association. There is
growth in a greater number of countries, including new markets in
Portugal and France and, by 2010, wind energy alone will displace
one-third of the GHG emissions under the EC’s Kyoto obligation.
Despite growth in Europe, wind energy is becoming less reliant on a
small number of key markets and other regions are starting to catch
up with the continent where growth last year accounted for only half
of the total new capacity, down from three quarters in 2004. One
quarter of new capacity was installed in North America, where the
total capacity increased by 37% and the U.S. set new records for
installed capacity with 2,500 MW of turbines.
The U.S. growth is largely due to the current three-year window of
stability in the federal incentive of the production tax credit, due
to Congressional extension before it expired for the first time in
history, says Randall Swisher of the American Wind Energy
Association. Previous years had seen constant fluctuation of the
market, depending on whether the PTC had been renewed in time to
create investor confidence.
Asia experienced growth of 49%, bringing that continent’s total to
7,135 MW and claiming 20% of new installations. The market in China
jumped in anticipation of the new Renewable Energy Law which came
into force in January, and the 500 MW installed last year was double
the 2004 figure.
The Australian market doubled last year with 328 MW of new
installations, while the relatively young African market saw steady
growth with installations double the 2004 level. Growth was highest
in Egypt (230 MW) and Morocco (64 MW).
“Wind energy offers more that just power; it has the potential to
support economic development, improve the security of energy supply,
mitigate hydrocarbon price volatility, create jobs and contribute to
substantial CO2 reductions,” explains Zervos. “Without political
support, however, wind energy remains at a competitive disadvantage
due to distortions in the world’s electricity markets created by
decades of massive financial, political and structural support to
conventional technologies.”
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