Special Edition: World Wind Energy Report 2008 (Part 5)

This is part five in the series "Special Edition: World Wind Energy Report 2008" published by the World Wind Energy Association.

Australia and Oceania:
The region showed encouraging growth rates, reaching 1’819 MW by the end of 2008, most of it thanks to Australia. Commitments made by the Australian government to increase their efforts in climate change mitigation and expansion of renewable energies create the expectation that the Australian wind energy market will show further robust growth also in the coming years. New Zealand, after a change in government, may, however, face major delay in its switch to renewable energy.

Europe:
Europe lost its dominating role as new market but kept its leading position in terms of total installation with 66’160 MW. Germany and Spain maintained as leading markets, both showing stable growth. The most dynamic European markets were Ireland (adding 440 MW, 55 % growth) and Poland (196 MW added, 71 % growth), the first Eastern European country with a substantial wind deployment. All in all, the European wind sector showed almost stagnation with a very small increase in added capacity from 8’607 MW to 8’928 MW.

The biggest market Germany is expected, after the amendment of the renewable energy law EEG, to show bigger market growth in 2009. An encouraging change happened in the UK where the government announced the introduction of a feed-in tariff for community based renewable energy projects. However, the cap of 5 MW represents a major hurdle so that the UK wind market will still grow at moderate rates. However, without additional incentives for wind power in more EU member states, such as improved feed-in legislation, the European Union may not be able to achieve its 2020 targets for renewable energy.

Latin America:
Many Latin American markets still showed stagnation in the year 2008 and the overall installed capacity (667 MW) in the region accounts for only 0,5 % of the global capacity. Only Brazil and Uruguay installed major wind farms in the year 2008. This slow wind deployment is especially dangerous for the economic and social prospects of the region as in many countries people are already suffering from power shortages and sometimes do not have access to modern energy services at all. However, in some countries like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica or Mexico many projects are under construction thus putting lights in the forecast for 2009.

North America:
North America showed very strong growth in the year 2008, more than doubling its capacity since 2006 to 27’539 MW. Breaking two world records, the USA became the new number one worldwide in terms of added as well as in terms of total capacity. More and more US states are establishing favourable legal frameworks for wind energy and try to attract investors in manufacturing facilities. It can be expected that the new Obama administration will improve substantially the political frameworks for wind power in the country, especially for those type of investors that have practically been excluded from the production tax credit scheme, like farmers, smaller companies or community based projects. The credit crunch, however, may lead to delays in project development in the short term.

The Canadian government has rather been hesitating. However, among the Canadian provinces Quebec and Ontario are showing increasing commitment towards an accelerated deployment of wind energy. During and after the World Wind Energy Conference Community Power held in Kingston/Ontario in June 2008, the Government of Ontario showed strong commitment to rapid expansion of renewable energy and is expected to present soon a proposal for a Green Energy Act, including feed-in tariffs for the different renewable energies including wind. In Quebec, contracts for new projects were signed for a total of 2’000 MW, the first to be operational by 2011.

This is the last press release in this series. For more information please contact Trevor Sievet at ts@windfair.net