Europe takes wind energy lead
- ed.; Home & Business, Post Mills, VT (United States)
California, once the undisputed leader in windpower capacity, has finally slipped from its top spot. America`s longtime lead in wind energy development is expected to fall to Europe by mid-1997. Germany`s installed windpower capacity has now surpassed California`s. According to data compiled by the Deutches Windenergie Institut in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, total installed wind-generating capacity reached 1,546 MW in Germany at the end of 1996. Despite the slowdown in German development in 1996, an astonishing 428 MW were installed. For comparison, 400 MW were installed during peak California windpower development in 1985. German companies installed nearly 500 MW of windpower capacity in 1995. Analysts estimate there are 1,497 MW operating in California, nearly 50 MW less than what is now installed in Germany. The German market alone represents $500,000 in turbine sales. Revenues from electricity sales approached $250 million last year. Installed windpower capacity in Germany at the start of 1997 was only 50 MW shy of total installed capacity in the entire United States, a nation with 22 times the land area and four times the population as Germany. At the present growth rate, Germany was expected to surpass the United States during the first quarter of 1997. By the end of the year, installed capacity in Germany will approach 2,000 MW, exceeding North America`s 1,614 MW.
- OSTI ID:
- 577457
- Journal Information:
- Independent Energy, Journal Name: Independent Energy Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 27; ISSN 1043-7320; ISSN IDPEEW
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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