Our Markets
2008 was a record year for new installations as worldwide wind energy capacity rose 28.8% with the US passing Germany to become the number one windpower market. The global growth rate was 36% as the world’s total installed capacity reached 120.8 GW at the end of 2008. Wind energy has become an important player in the world’s energy markets, with the 2008 market for turbine installations worth about US$50 billion. The wind industry also creates many new jobs; over 400,000 people are now employed in this industry, and that number is expected to be in the millions in the near future.*
In North America, the US installation of 8.5 GW broke all previous records, reaching a total installed capacity of over 25 GW, increasing the country’s total wind power generating capacity by half. The growth in the US wind market in 2008 accounted for about 42% of the entire new power producing capacity added in the US last year, and created 35,000 new jobs, bringing the total employed in the sector up to 85,000. In 2008, the US Department of Energy reported that wind power could provide 20% of US electricity by 2030.
In 2008 Canada ended the year with 2.4 GW of installed wind energy capacity, enough power to meet almost 1% of the country’s total electricity demand. Energy installations representing 526 MW of installed wind energy capacity came on line including the first wind farms in the provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador. British Columbia, began construction of its first wind farm with completion expected in early 2009.
* As reported in the Global Wind Report by the Global Wind Energy Council,
To download the Report follow this link:
The Global Wind 2008 Report.
Many factors affect the development of wind farms from wind resources, land rights, grid connection, permitting requirements and the ability to negotiate viable power purchase agreements. As a result, substantial differences have developed in installed wind capacity on a state by state basis in the US.
the wind company is confident that the enormous potential of North American wind energy will be realized and many regions with excellent, but not fully exploited wind resources will play a significant role in the future. As a result, the wind company considers the entire North American continent as prospective and welcomes the opportunity to work with developers in all regions.
Additional markets in Latin America and other regions are under consideration.