According to Danish wind consultants, BTM Consult ApS, world wind projects in
the pipeline amount to $20 billion in revenue; leading installers come from
Denmark, then Germany and Spain. They forecast that wind power capacity will
more than triple over the next five years.
Germany
In 2001, private investors begin construction of the largest offshore wind farm in the world – it will rival the largest nuclear or coal-fired power station in size.
It will produce a whopping 1,200 megawatts (Denmark’s offshore wind farm produces just 11 MW) and is scheduled to be completed by 2005. The park will cover an estimated 200 square kilometres (49,420 acres) in the North Sea.
Wind energy is growing most rapidly in Germany. The industry is concentrated in
the two northern states with the longest coastline, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. Both states have adopted a goal of installing 1,000 MW of wind capacity.
UK
Britain currently generates two percent of its energy from renewable sources; its goal is to expand the proportion to five percent by 2003 and to 10 percent by 2010. Research shows that more than 70 percent of residential customers are interested in buying green power and half would pay a premium.
Denmark
Over half of world wind power comes from Denmark and this year, wind energy will supply 10 percent of the country’s electricity. Wind turbine sales in Denmark
grew by 26 percent in 1998, in another record year. Danish manufacturers found
their largest market in Germany (32% of sales), Spain (16% ) and Italy (7%). In
1999, sales are projected to increase by 30 percent. The industry will employ
15,000, more people than Denmark’s electricity sector. These figures do not
include the large projects underway in Canada, U.S. and Spain.
Canada
The National Energy Board released a report that projects Canada’s energy mix
over the next 25 years. By 2025, renewable energy capacity will increase to 5.5 percent of total. Wind will grow the fastest of the renewables (quadrupling to
1% of electricity), and biomass will double in capacity, surpassing small hydro. According to the report, “Current market conditions do not support higher
penetration of renewable fuels.” Hydro will remain the country’s dominant source
but its share will go down from 60-56 percent. Natural gas, on the other hand,
may increase by 80 percent. PV was not considered in the report; it is not
expected to achieve significant levels.
Energy demand is predicted to surge by almost 50 percent by 2025, but might be mitigated by an aging population and energy efficiency measures. Greenhouse gas emissions will increase by 14-24 percent by 2010, depending on penetration of renewables.
Toronto Hydro, the second largest municipal utility in North America, will offer customers green power from wind turbines, methane, gas-fired combined cycle and co-generation facilities when the Ontario power sector is deregulated next year. They plan to install two windmills on Toronto’s waterfront, the first to be built in a downtown setting in North America. A company goal is to reduce carbon emissions by
20 percent by 2005.
A study conducted for the Canadian Wind Energy Association revealed that 82 percent of Canadians would buy wind-generated electricity if it were competitively priced.
Canadian Energy – Supply and Demand to 2025
Toronto Hydro
U.S.
Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson announced the ‘Wind Powering America’
initiative, which seeks to increase wind energy to at least five percent of
total demand by 2020, and the government’s use of wind energy to five percent
by 2010. Currently, wind energy supplies .1 percent of the U.S. demand.
Wind generation costs are expected to be halved by 2012, even now they are competitive at 4-6 cents/kWh. The wind tax credit expired June 30 and he is
seeking an extension for projects completed during the next five years.
Madison Gas & Electric in Wisconsin recently opened a 17 turbine wind farm.
Its 4400 customer capacity is close to fully subscribed. GreenMountain.com
will construct a similarly sized project in Pennsylvania facility in early 2000.
Texas enacted the most progressive state deregulation bill to date – it commits
the state to develop renewable energy sources by 2009 to meet the entire demand
of 1.2 million homes (triple the California target). It also includes precedent setting commitments to clean up the state’s existing power plants. Even with this aggressive plan, renewables will account for only three percent of Texas energy
use because the state is the highest consumer in the nation.
South Africa
The South African Wind Energy Association is working with Eskom, the utility, to
set a target for wind energy, which could supply 10 percent of electricity by 2020. Greenhouse gas concerns make wind look favorable compared to coal which is
increasing in use.
Malaysia
Speaking at the World Renewable Energy Congress 1999, which met in Malaysia, the prime minister, Mohammed Mahathir said he will add a fifth fuel, renewable energy,
to his country’s “four-fuel strategy” which comprises oil, gas, hydro and coal.
The recently created Malaysia Energy Centre will coordinate efforts in the public
and private sectors to commercialize renewable energy.
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