U.S. small wind turbine market grew 14% in 2007
AWEA - July 17, 2008
Driven by consumer concerns over climate change and rising electricity
prices, the U.S. small wind turbine market grew 14% and deployed 9.7
megawatts (MW) of new power generating capacity in 2007, the American Wind
Energy Association (AWEA) said today in its annual small wind turbine market
report. Small wind systems have rated capacities of less than 1 kilowatt
(kW) up to 100 kW and are used for a broad range of applications, from
charging batteries on sailboats and recreational vehicles to powering
individual homes, farms, and small businesses.
“Consumers are eager for clean energy solutions, and a small wind system is
one of the most productive ways to generate clean, reliable, fuel-free
electricity,” said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher. “To fully meet
growing customer demand we need policies that make it easier and less costly
to invest in small wind systems.”
AWEA and small wind system advocates are calling for a 30% federal
Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Such a credit could lead to an estimated
40%-50% annual growth, similar to the growth in the solar photovoltaic (PV)
market following the adoption of a federal ITC for solar in 2005. Currently,
there are no federal incentives in place for small wind systems. Several
states have incentives for small wind, and, not surprisingly, they are also
the states with the largest small wind system markets. Impractical and
prohibitive zoning practices, as well as balkanized grid interconnection
standards, pose additional barriers to growth.
According to the AWEA small wind turbine report, in 2007:
Over 9,000 small wind turbine units were sold, with total sales value of $42
million;
Total small wind generating capacity in the U.S. is now 55-60 MW;
Small wind systems in the U.S. displace an estimated 60,000 tons of carbon
dioxide annually, the equivalent of taking 10,000 cars off the road;
About 50 companies manufacture or plan to manufacture small wind systems in
the U.S.;
The U.S. is the world’s largest small wind turbine market; and
Exports account for about 40% of U.S. small wind system manufacturers’
sales.
See the full Small Wind Market Report at
http://www.awea.org/smallwind/documents/AWEASmallWindMarketStudy2007.pdf
More information about small wind systems is available at
http://www.awea.org/smallwind/
.
AWEA is the national trade association of America’s wind industry, with a
membership that includes global leaders in wind power development, wind
turbine manufacturing, and energy, as well as a broad range of component and
service suppliers. More information on wind energy is available at the
AWEA Web site: www.awea.org . |