JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 26

market

Fig. 1: Total installed capacity 2010-2012 (MW)

overall installed capacity of around 67.7
GW. Without doubt, the country will retain
its number one position in the foreseeable
future, but at a lower growth rate.
Over that period, India recorded 1,471
MW of additional capacity, a similar figure
as in the first half of 2011. The prospects
for the Indian market are blurring due to
outstanding payments for wind generators
in some parts of the country and the recent
decisions to abolish major support schemes.

Europe
Most of the European markets showed
stronger growth in the first half of 2012 than
in the same period of the previous year. The
top European markets continue to be Germany, with an additional capacity of 941
MW and a total of 30,016 MW, Spain (414
MW; 22,087 MW in total), Italy (490 MW;
7,280 MW in total), France (650 MW;
7,182 MW in total), the United Kingdom
(822 MW; 6,480 MW) and Portugal (19
MW; 4,398 MW).
All these markets, except Spain and
Portugal, showed an increase in their new
installed capacity compared to the first half
of 2011.
Again, the “emerging” markets in Eastern
Europe are among the most dynamic markets, e.g. Romania with 33% growth (274
MW added), Poland with 32% (527 MW
added by April 2012), Ukraine with 64%
(37 MW added) and Latvia with 64% (20
MW added).

Fig. 2: New installed capacity 2010-2012 (MW)

USA and Canada
The US market added 2,883 MW of new
capacity between January and June 2012,
i.e. about 28% more than in the same period
in 2011. Major uncertainties arise from the
unclear situation about the future of the
Production Tax Credit. Several companies
have already laid off people, and the near
future of the US wind market may not
be very bright in case there is no support
scheme in place. Canada installed 246 MW
of additional capacity during the first half of
2012, which is less than in the same period
of 2011.

Latin America
The largest two Latin American markets,
Brazil and Mexico, recorded modest growth
rates but still remained above the global average: Brazil increased its installed capacity
from 1,425 MW to 1,543 MW, and Mexico
from 929 MW to 1,002 MW. Both countries
are expected to continue as the lead markets
in the region over the next years.

Australia
Very encouraging developments happened
in Australia, where 384 MW of additional
capacity were installed, equalling a 17%
growth in comparison with the end of 2011.

Worldwide prospects for
the end of 2012 and for 2013
In the second half of 2012, an additional
capacity of 19,000 MW should be built
worldwide, which would bring new annual
installations to 35,546 MW, i.e. significantly

26 jec composites magazine / No78 January - February 2013

less than the 40,535 MW of the year 2011.
The total installed wind capacity is expected
to reach 273,000 MW by the end of 2012.
According to Prof. He Dexin, WWEA
President: “Wind technology has become a
pillar of the electricity supply scheme in many
countries – just recently, Denmark announced
a world-record wind power share of 28% in the
country’s electricity supply. This success of wind
power has become possible because of wise supportive policies by governments on the one hand,
and because of innovation and cost reductions
by the wind industry on the other hand. Today,
wind power can compete with any other source of
energy without causing environmental problems.
WWEA calls on all governments not to reduce
but to strengthen their efforts so that more investment in wind power can be made.”
Stefan Gsänger, WWEA Secretary General, says: “The wind industry, without doubt,
is currently in a difficult situation. Political
uncertainties in some of the key markets, namely
the USA, Spain and India, are major matters of
concern. At the same time, China has reached its
maximum speed of installing new wind farms,
although the Chinese market still continues to be
much larger than any other. However, this leads
to strong pressure on Chinese manufacturers and
will further increase pressure on wind turbine
prices worldwide. More countries should now
make use of the low cost of wind power and
implement the technology as fast as possible.” n
Source: report WWWEA 2012
More information: www.wwindea.org

http://www.wwindea.org

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013

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