So, Germany decided to ditch nuclear power by 2022 and largely replace the lost nuclear energy with renewables, such as wind and solar. Hurrah! We at The Switch think it is a great decision for Germany as well as for the whole wind power industry. To shut down all of Germany’s nuclear reactors and to launch an “energy revolution” (as chancellor Merkel appropriately calls it) is a bold move. And we hope Germany will manage to set an example so that other countries will embark on this sustainable path, too.
According to Denmark-based BTM Consult, which specializes in providing forecasts and data to the international wind power industry, the wind power sector was the fastest growing electricity generation technology in 2010. The level of annual installed capacity has grown at an average rate of 27.6% per year for the past five years. In its newly released wind power report, the consulting company projects an average global growth rate of 15.5% annually for new annual installations through 2015, resulting in an expected total global capacity of 513.6 GW by 2015. In the following less predictable five year period between 2016 – 2020, the expectation is for an average annual growth rate of approximately 11.5%, closing in on the 1,000 GW milestone by the end of 2020.
With the help of modern power generation technology, wind power has become a viable and an efficient energy resource. It is one of the very few energy sources for which you can forecast the price per kW. In wind power generation, the costs over the entire 20-year average lifetime of a wind turbine comprise the investment. This includes the operation and maintenance expenses. Modern wind power measurements allow a fairly precise prediction of the annual energy production, which can be maximized with permanent magnet technology (PMG). PMG technology also comes handy when managing operation and maintenance expenses. Compared with traditional double-fed induction generators, PMG requires significantly less maintenance, creating a considerable savings advantage over conventional double-fed machines.
Jussi Vanhanen, Director of Sales and Marketing at The Switch
