Renewable Energy World - Following a record-breaking year of capacity additions in 2009—with 9.8 GW of wind projects installed—the U.S. wind market finds itself confronting a growth-constrained 2010 and a near-term market landscape wrought with increased competition, according to a new market study, U.S. Wind Power Markets and Strategies: 2010-2025 from IHS Emerging Energy Research.
However, with the proliferation of favorable state and federal policies, the U.S. wind industry is on track to add more than 165 GW of new capacity through 2025, resulting in a total installed base of 200 GW, according to the study's projections. The study forecasts anywhere from 6.3-7.1 GW of wind could be installed in 2010, 40-60 percent lower than 2009 installations.
"2010 marks the first time since 2004 that the US wind industry will not surpass the previous year's growth level. Despite unprecedented federal wind incentives, reverberations from the financial crisis continue to create a difficult near-term market landscape especially in light of continued energy policy uncertainty. ...
"The unprecedented decline in power demand and electricity and natural gas prices has had a profound effect on utility willingness to ink power purchase agreements," Kaplan said.
"Despite large build years in 2009, leading independent power producers EDP Horizon and NextEra Energy Resources have slashed wind build expectations exemplifying near-term challenges."
Please read more at Renewable Energy World
"2010 marks the first time since 2004 that the US wind industry will not surpass the previous year's growth level. Despite unprecedented federal wind incentives, reverberations from the financial crisis continue to create a difficult near-term market landscape especially in light of continued energy policy uncertainty. ...
"The unprecedented decline in power demand and electricity and natural gas prices has had a profound effect on utility willingness to ink power purchase agreements," Kaplan said.
"Despite large build years in 2009, leading independent power producers EDP Horizon and NextEra Energy Resources have slashed wind build expectations exemplifying near-term challenges."
Please read more at Renewable Energy World