The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) yesterday published its “Global Wind Report: Annual Market Update”, which shows a growing industry that competes successfully in the market, even against strongly subsidized traditional energy generation technologies. It notes that more than 52 wind GW were added worldwide in 2017 and assures that the sector will again experience dramatic growth in 2019, surpassing the milestone of 60 GW in 2020 and continue growing from there to reach a total of 840 GW from wind by 2022.
Thus, the report states that in 2017, more than 52 GW of clean and emission-free wind energy were added, bringing total installations to 539 GW of wind power worldwide. With the new records achieved in Europe, India and the offshore sector, the annual markets will continue their rapid growth after 2018, the organization said in a statement.
“Wind power is taking on a large part of the decarbonisation process and continues to wipe out competition in price, performance and reliability,” Steve Sawyer, General Secretary of GWEC said. “Both on land and offshore, wind energy is key to defining a sustainable energy future,” he added.
The markets in Morocco, India, Mexico and Canada range between 0.03 dollars / kWh, with a recent auction in Mexico where prices reached were well below 0.02 dollars / kWh
The Association emphasizes in a statement that the dramatic price reductions in wind on both land and at sea continue to surprise. The markets in Morocco, India, Mexico and Canada range between 0.03 dollars / kWh, with a recent auction in Mexico where prices reached were well below 0.02 dollars / kWh. Simultaneously, offshore wind achieved its first “non-subsidised” offers in tenders in Germany and the Netherlands, with auctions for almost 2 GW of new wind capacity that perceived no more than the wholesale price of electricity.
GWEC’s 5-year forecast foresees the 2018 market at a level similar to that of 2017, as the dominant EU markets in Germany and the United Kingdom will face declines due to changing regulatory environments, and the Indian market will temporarily fall due to a “political gap” between old and new systems; but it assures that the sector will return to dramatic growth in 2019, surpassing the milestone of 60 GW in 2020 and continue growing from there to reach a total of 840 GW from wind by 2022.
Offshore wind achieved its first “non-subsidised” offers in tenders in Germany and the Netherlands, with auctions for almost 2 GW of new wind capacity that perceived no more than the wholesale price of electricity
According to Sawyer there is a new market on the rise in Argentina and Mexico which is on the verge of dramatic growth. “We see great potential that is just beginning to take shape in Russia, Vietnam and even Saudi Arabia, and offshore wind is spreading like wildfire around the world due to Europe’s patient and pioneering efforts to bring technology to cost competitiveness, “he said.
The report predicts that the US market will remain strong at least until 2020, and probably beyond, and Brazil will continue to dominate Latin American markets, albeit with a new rival in Argentina. New markets will continue to emerge in Africa and Asia, although China will remain the dominant market worldwide, but with less dramatic growth than in the last decade.
In 2017, wind energy supplied 11.6% of EU energy, led by Denmark, Portugal and Ireland with 24% and Spain and Germany just under 20%
GWEC points out that the penetration levels of wind continue to rise rapidly. Denmark obtained 44% of its electricity from wind energy in 2017 and Uruguay obtained more than 30%. In 2017, wind energy supplied 11.6% of EU energy, led by Denmark, Portugal and Ireland with 24% and Spain and Germany just under 20%. Four US states get more than 30% of their electricity from wind, as do the state of South Australia and several states in Germany.
“Driven by the improvement of the wind energy economy, as well as solar and storage, the general lines of a 100% renewable energy system are becoming clear,” Sawyer concluded.
