FAQs

The wind power market has grown rapidly in the last ten years and is currently the fastest growing power source, contributing more than any other renewable. Global installed capacity reached 121 GW by the end of 2008 and is lead by five large markets. The USA has the largest installed base with 25 GW, followed by Germany with 24 GW, followed by Spain, China and India. These countries contribute 73% of global capacity. In the last two years another 10 countries have joined the ‘1 GW Club’ and are set to build capacity to rival the leaders and other countries are making significant growth. ABS forecasts global wind capacity will reach 230 GW by 2012, with the US and China leading, Germany and Spain not far behind. After that, the size of the US and Chinese energy markets will draw them inexorably ahead of the world. Because of its high cost, along with other renewables, the wind power market has been heavily subsidised by governments in order to drive investment.  The fit of wind power into the generating spectrum of base, intermediate and peak load is discussed. Conventional power sources such as coal, biomass and nuclear, have capacity factors of 65% to 90%, which means they are suited to provide base load power. In comparison, wind power has a capacity factor ranging from 20% to 40% depending on conditions and a much lower capacity credit, the amount of conventional capacity it can displace. Various governments have recently announced huge wind power programmes, some at enormous cost to the tax payer and energy consumer, but they never announce its real contribution to total available capacity. ABS discusses these important issues in the Wind Power Report.

Outline of Report

This report provides an outline of the world wind energy industry and market, with market surveys of each of 5 major markets and 20 intermediate markets, together with national policies and support plans and incentives. Analysis of the manufacturing base, supply chain, wind power developers and owners. Historical analysis from 1990 and forecasts of capacity to 2012. National targets and incentives are listed. Factors affecting wind power are outlined and crucial issues such as variability and intermittency, dispatchability, capacity factors and capacity credits are discussed and assessed.

• The development of wind energy: the market in 2008
• The future of wind power, 2009 to 2012
• Assessment of factors affecting wind power; terminology, issues and the operational experience of the most experienced wind power operators
• National policies for renewable energy – targets, support mechanisms, RPS policy and feed-in tariffs
• National wind power markets
• Wind Industry Supply Chain- vertical integration, supply chain in the electro-technical industry, raw material, lead times, turbine production capacity, components balance of plant, tire 1 and tier 2 – rotor blades, gear boxes, bearings, cast iron and forged components, towers, transformers
• Wind Farm Developers and Owners
• Manufacturing Base
• Off-Shore Wind Power – on the cusp

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  For more information on the rest of the topics we cover within the renewable energy market please go to our renewable energy market research page.