Wind energy grows from strength to strength

Large-scale wind energy is an increasingly important factor in global energy supply. Economic and population growth continues to lead to rapid increases in worldwide energy consumption. According to International Energy Agency (IEA) figures, between 1973 and 2006 total primary energy supply for all uses almost doubled and electricity generation more than tripled (the vast majority coming from fossil fuels – coal, gas and oil). By the end of 2008, wind energy generation accounted for around 1.25 per cent of global electricity demand (installed capacity of 120GW and electricity generation of 250TWh).

This is expected to continue to grow. Even assuming a conservative rate of growth, wind energy production is expected to account for around 4.2–5.8 per cent of global demand by 2050 but could reach over 20 per cent according to advanced scenarios proposed by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).

A high level of penetration has already been achieved in European countries such as Denmark (20 per cent), Spain (10 per cent), Portugal (12 per cent) and Germany (8 per cent).

Within the EU as a whole, wind energy generation currently meets approximately 4.2 per cent of the electricity demand and saves an estimated 100 million tonnes of CO2 per year. Global total installed capacity grew by 36 per cent in 2008 alone led by strong development in North America, Europe and Asia. The USA eclipsed Germany as the country with the largest installed capacity and the Chinese market again expanded strongly (with a doubling of installed capacity).

Overall, the global market in 2008 was estimated to be worth around €36.5 billion and responsible for around 400,000 jobs.

While the impacts of the global recession also began to bite in late 2008, this is expected to be no more that a temporary blip in the rapid growth of the wind energy industry.

Obrázek 1: Větrné elektrárny v hrabství Gamesa, UK.

Image 1: Large-scale wind turbines (Image Courtesy of Gamesa)

But it is not just large-scale wind energy that is growing. In fact, the global market for small wind grew even faster, by over 50 per cent in 2008 according to AWEA (American Wind Energy Association), with almost 40MW of turbines rated at 100kW or lower coming on-stream. Of these, 28MW were rated at less than 50kW (the typical limit for the ‘small wind’ classification).

Small wind accounted for just over 0.1 per cent of global growth in installed wind energy capacity in 2008 ( 27GW), but a distinct small wind market has emerged over the past few years and is attracting attention particularly in the largest markets – the US and UK. In the UK over 20,000 systems were installed between 2005 and 2009 alone.

Image 2: A 3.7m diameter wind turbine from Southwest Windpower as part of La Case Verde, a sustainable residence made from recycled materials in San Francisco, California. (Robin Wilson)

AWEA predicts that a recent long-term financial incentive introduced by the federal government could increase the size of the US market by as much as 30-fold over the next five years. In the UK, according to BWEA (British Wind Energy Association), the small wind industry is already responsible for almost 1900 jobs. While the small wind sector remains very small in global terms, it is likely to grow rapidly for the foreseeable future. The BWEA predict small wind alone will provide 5,800 jobs in the UK by 2020 and more than 10,000 by 2040.

Other special wind energy projects are also emerging where architects are integrating wind energy (and other forms of renewable energy) into the design of new buildings. This type of thinking will require a requiring a new type of designers and engineers.

Image 3: The iconic Castle House residential tower, with three integrated 9m diameter turbines, in London. The client/developer is Brookfield Europe and the architects are Hamiltons (Hayes Davidson)