USA - Growth in the US wind power market set to soar

The US wind power market, the world's largest in terms of annual MW additions for the past two years, will see unprecedented growth over the next decade. With installed wind capacity expected to grow from 11,600 MW in 2006 to nearly 49,000 MW by 2015, the US wind market will average over $5 billion per year during the forecast period.

US Wind Power Markets and Strategies, 2007-2015 is EER's third annual study analyzing US wind markets, and is widely considered the most in-depth and authoritative market study available on this fast growing market.

- Supply chain dynamics, accompanied by turbine price escalation, will continue to constrain the US industry as global shortages in key components such as bearings, gearboxes and castings cause vendors to struggle with supply chain security. However, new blade manufacturing and nacelle assembly investments on US soil will begin to slowly ease delivery bottlenecks to the booming US market in 2009 and beyond.

- Developer consolidation continues across the value chain, with regional pureplay development companies increasingly the target of large global energy players and the price tag of market entry rising significantly. RPS demand continues to drive project pipeline development, with necessary transmission infrastructure expansions following suit.

- Early extension of the PTC through 2008 has provided another year of regulatory certainty for the more than 6 GW in projects which are rushing for construction in the next two years. While federal uncertainty still threatens the US market after 2008, policy momentum at both the national and state levels continues to set the framework for long-term sustained US growth.

US Wind Power Markets and Strategies, 2007-2015 is the third study on US wind markets and is widely considered the most indepth and authoritative market study available on this fast growing market. These market studies are widely-ready and well-received by key stakeholders in the industry including wind turbine manufacturers, component suppliers, financial companies, investment companies, utilities, IPPs and developers.