World Wind Watch | Green Energy News

June 1, 2003 – Vol.8 No.10

WORLD WIND WATCH.

According to a report from Platt’s Research and Consulting (PR&C), wind energy in the United States will increase from 4.7 gigawatts today to 36 gigawatts by 2015 - an increase in capacity of more 650 percent - more than 7.5 times today’s output.

The optimistic report may be hard to believe with the current slow economy and an Administration and Congress somewhat-less-than-jubilant about wind energy and all renewables. However, the report takes into consideration the growing numbers of Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) being put in place by the States as well as the possibility that the U.S. Congress will eventually pass a long term Production Tax Credit (PTC) that will encourage the development of more wind energy.

The report, Renewable Power Outlook, which won’t be released for another month, also claims that geothermal capacity will grow in that time frame at an average rate of 4.5 percent per year, large scale concentrating solar power plant capacity to double by 2015, solar photovoltaic systems to continue a growth rate of 15 percent per year, and landfill gas operations will continue to grow in number.

Overall, Platt’s expects renewable growth to be on the order of 8 percent per year but cautions that renewables will still make up only less than 5 percent of the nation’s power supply in 12 years. Yet the authors do recognize that renewables will take on an increasingly important role in the nation’s power supply.

PR&C is a service of McGraw-Hill, a publisher and information services provider since 1888. PR&C and its Renewable Power Service is also holding a summit in July on renewable energy. For more about the Report visit http://www.renewablepower.platts.com/ , the summit http://www.renewablepowersummit.platts.com/ .

Vestas Wind Systems will only say that it as received a purchase order to supply 100 million euros ($117 million) worth of V80-1.8 megawatt turbines to a U.S. customer later this year. The company won’t say how many turbines, for whom and for what project. For that information we’ll just have to wait. Visit Vestas at http://www.vestas.com/ .

With the purchase of MADE from Spanish utility company Endesa for 120 million euros ($140.5 million) Gamesa will become the third largest producer of wind turbines in the world behind Vestas and Enercon. Though there is some overlap between MADE and Gamesa in the rated output capacity of turbines offered by each, Gamesa says MADE uses a different technology that would help the new company pursue new markets.

MADE, which operates some wind farms in Spain, will continue to supply Endesa with power from them. Visit Gamesa at http://www.gamesa.es/ , http://www.made.es/

Sequoia Energy of Canada has partnered with Global Renewable Energy Partners (GREP) of Denmark to build up to 200 megawatts of wind capacity in St. Leon, Manitoba, Canada.

The initial phase will of 100 megawatts should be online by early 2004 using turbines supplied by NEG-Micon. Visit NEG-Micon at http://www.neg-micon.com/ .

Finally, Massachusetts and New York have launched supply-side initiatives to build more renewable capacity in their respective states. The Massachusetts plan covers all renewables including wind. New York’s is strictly for wind. See Requests for Proposals and Funding Opportunities below...