The Mighty Wind | Green Energy News

May 11, 2007 – Vol.12 No.7

THE MIGHTY WIND.

Consider this: Wind energy makes up less than one percent of global power generation. But don’t be disheartened. For every new kilowatt of wind energy installed a kilowatt of fossil energy doesn’t have to be built. In other words; the situation could be worse.

According to the latest report from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) wind grew 25 percent in 2006 to a total of 74,000 megawatts - 74 gigawatts. By the end of the current decade wind energy could more than double to nearly 150 gigawatts.

Overall, Europe is the wind capital of the world: 48 gigawatts installed. But with vast wind-swept, lightly-populated regions in North America and Asia wind growth is expected to be strong. The GWEC predicts 31.6 gigawatts by 2010 in North America - up from under ten gigawatts at the end of 2006. Asia could be close behind by the end with 30 gigawatts installed by 2010.

The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) forsees wind energy could supply 16 percent of the EU’s energy needs by 2020, the largest share of the 20 percent renewables by 2020 goal as set forth by the European Commission.

Today Europe gets more than 3 percent of its electricity from wind energy. Over 7.5 gigawatts were installed in 2006. The GWEC says 82 gigawatts at decade’s end. The EWEA says 180 gigawatts could be operating by 2020.

Among renewables wind is a mighty force. There’s always continuing news from the disruptive wind energy industry.

--- The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) has given the thumbs up to construct the Cedar Ridge Wind Farm in the townships of Eden and Empire in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. The $180 million facility to be built by Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL) (an Alliant Energy Company) will have an output of 60 - 99 megawatts. Its 41 turbines will provide enough electricity to power the equivalent of 15,000 to 25,000 average Wisconsin homes. Eventual power output will be determined by the capacity of the turbines yet to be chosen for the project.

Cedar Ridge is expected to be complete by the end of 2008. Alliant has plans to install 300 megawatts of renewable energy by the end of 2009. Cedar Ridge will be Alliant Energy's first owned wind farm. http://www.alliantenergy.com/cedarridge

--- Now online providing clean power to the grid is the Wildorado Wind Ranch in Wildorado, Texas. With 70, 2.3 megawatt Siemens wind turbines Wildorado has a nameplate capacity of 161 megawatts.

Edison Mission Group (EMG) and Cielo Wind Power jointly developed the project. All of the power is being sold to Southwestern Public Service Company, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy, under a long-term power purchase agreement.

EMG currently has more than 600 megawatts of wind power capacity, either in operation or in the development pipeline. The company has at 14 projects in the states of Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. http://www.edisonnews.com/

--- In New Mexico, Babcock and Brown and Arizona Public Service (APS) have dedicated the Aragonne Mesa Wind Project, a 90 turbine, 90 megawatt project.

B and B, the project developer and operator, with the dedication of Aragonne, now has 170 megawatts of wind energy operating in New Mexico . APS, which is buying all of the power from the project, can now claim to have 106 megawatts in its renewable portfolio. http://www.babcockbrown.com/

--- The order books for wind turbines continue to be filled at the world’s wind turbine manufacturers..

Suzlon Wind Energy has received an order from PPM Energy for 400 megawatts in turbine capacity. It’s Suzlon’s largest single order to date. All of the turbines will be the company’s 2.1 megawatt model. The first 300 megawatts worth will be delivered in 2008, the remaining 100 megawatts in 2009. The turbines will be installed in undisclosed projects in the US. http://www.suzlon.com/

GE has taken an order from Invenergy Wind for 600 megawatts of wind turbines. The turbines, to be delivered to projects in 2008, will be planted in US and Canadian soil. The order is on top of a previous 600 megawatt order from Invenergy. http://www.gepower.com/

Vestas has received an order for 94 turbines of 1.8 and 2.0 megawatt capacity for several different projects in Spain. Delivery will begin in the summer of 2008 with the final turbine shipped a year later. http://www.vestas.com/

Visit the Global Wind Energy Council at http://www.gwec.net/ the European Wind Energy Association at http://www.ewea.org/