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The Small Wind Turbine Global Market: Catching Energy
Priority Metrics Group, Nov 2010, Pages: 135
Small wind energy is a inexhaustable, renewable, no-carbon energy source that can be used to generate electricity almost anywhere. Advances in wind turbine technology are enabling even limited-wind locations to take advantage of the free energy available. In some locations, simply changing the height of the turbine's tower can solve problems with limited wind velocity. In other locations, almost any reasonable tower size can capture the prevalent winds.
Wind turbines can access the winds on the earth’s surface and use it to generate electricity for homes or commercial buildings. Since the source of energy is found all over the world, this technology can be utilized virtually anywhere on the planet and is a clean, renewable energy source that is not dependent on geology or solar radiation.
Current usage of wind turbines for energy in a small turbine (home, farm or small business) situation has been limited. However, the demand for more environmentally sensitive energy sources as well as the desire to locally control them is leading to increased research and improvements in small turbine wind technologies.
Small wind turbines offer a number of advantages over traditional dependence on the electrical grid or local sources of electricity such as carbon-based power generators. Some of those advantages are:
- Reliable, comparatively simple technology
- Renewable source (self-replenishing natural resource)
- Combustion-free power generation
- Zero environmental emissions
- No contribution to global warming
- Local availability (no expense in getting power to the user)
The primary drawback to local electrical generation using wind turbines is that without wind, there is no power generation. If the power generated by the wind is not required at the time, it can be stored in batteries. However, optimum efficiency in storage technologies is still being developed. In those locations where it is available, connection to the electrical grid is typically maintained as the alternative to storage solutions. When available wind is below minimums, electricity is purchased from the utility. When wind availability is beyond local needs, the excess electricity is sold back to the utility company. Essentially, the local utility 'becomes' the storage technology for small wind producers.
The total market for U.S. small wind turbines for 2009 expanded by approx.15%. Almost 10,000 units were sold to generate over 20 megawatts of new electricity. The total value was estimated to be about $121 million dollars, including equipment and installation cost (and not reduced by government or utility incentives). The dealer who sells the equipment often installs it. By 2014, PMG projects the U.S. small wind turbine market to be in excess of a quarter of a billion dollars. As of 2009, the global market for small wind turbines was approximately equal to the U.S. market but with a high concentration of installations in just a few countries.
Catching Energy presents a firm understanding of the technical, economic, and market potential for small wind turbines. Such an understanding is required to assist decision-makers in the identification of the most efficient use of resources. Both historical and projected metrics were gathered to determine technology improvements and commercialization opportunities. The report conducted analyses of market, policy, and technology status by evaluating the impacts of research and testing options. Additionally, results of the analyses will provide information to researchers, policy makers, and investors on areas to target for greater cost reduction and market transformation.
Catching Energy contains comprehensive data on the U.S. and global small wind turbine market, including historical (2005–2009) and forecast (2010–2014) market size data in terms of number and dollar value of unit shipments. The report identifies key trends affecting the marketplace and significant drivers of growth, and includes profiles of major marketers and producers
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