Small Wind Power

• Publication date: September 2011

Demand Drivers and Barriers, Technology Issues, Competitive Landscape, and Global Market Forecasts Power generation from small wind turbines is an increasingly important part of the broader market for renewable distributed energy generation. Small wind power provides cost-effective electricity on a highly localized level, both in remote settings as well as in conjunction with power from the utility grid. Growth in the industry is being ...

Demand Drivers and Barriers, Technology Issues, Competitive Landscape, and Global Market Forecasts
Power generation from small wind turbines is an increasingly important part of the broader market for renewable distributed energy generation. Small wind power provides cost-effective electricity on a highly localized level, both in remote settings as well as in conjunction with power from the utility grid. Growth in the industry is being driven by increased awareness of small wind technologies as an alternative source of electric power, the desire for community ownership of power generation, and the recognition that investment in small wind turbines can be an enduring source of economic development for the locales in which they are deployed.
Despite their benefits, small wind turbines have not enjoyed the same level of innovation when it comes to unique financing and business models, particularly when compared with distributed solar energy. This is largely because small wind turbines are currently more efficient than solar photovoltaic systems and, therefore, more economical from a levelized cost of energy perspective. In a region with adequate wind resources, the payback for a small wind system can be 5-10 years and does not require creative financing, like solar often does. Business models that are gaining traction in the small wind sector include leasing programs and utility or third-party ownership, and as the technology develops further, Pike Research anticipates that the price of turbines will continue to fall.
This Pike Research report examines the global market for small wind power including the equipment, components, and installation and service models to enable distributed energy generation from small wind turbines. The report provides a comprehensive examination of industry growth drivers, technology issues, regulatory frameworks, financing structures, and the competitive landscape. Global market forecasts, segmented by world region, extend through 2015.

Key Questions Addressed:

-Which countries will lead in small wind development over the next several years – and why?
-How does small wind power compare against other Renewable Distributed Energy Generation technologies?
-What are the most common applications for small wind power systems?
-What is the current status and outlook for small wind power financial incentives?
-How much does it cost to install small wind turbines in each country?
-Who are the small wind power market leaders and where are they working?
-How is technological innovation playing a role in the development of the small wind power industry?
-Who is investing in small wind power?
-What key barriers and opportunities will shape the small wind power market?
-How much capital will be invested in total small wind installations by 2015?

Who needs this report?

-Small wind turbine and component manufacturers
-Small wind and other renewable energy vendors and distributors
-Small wind industry service providers (law firms, banks, recruiters)
-Economic development agencies
-Business schools
-Think-tanks, non-profits, and industry associations
-Government agencies and regulators
-Investor community
-Distributed power generation and community wind power advocates

Global Renewable Energy Industry

Table of Contents

1.     Executive Summary
1.1  A Brief History
1.1.1    Early U.S. Development Efforts
1.1.2    The Energy Crisis of the 1970s:  California Boom Year
1.2  Big Growth in Small Markets
1.3  RDEG Market Growth:  2009-2015
1.4  The Three Primary Growth Drivers for Small Wind Turbines
1.5  Emerging Trends in Small Wind Turbine Deployment
1.6  Opportunities for Small Wind Turbine Deployment

2.     Market Issues
2.1  Defining the Market
2.2  What Is Distributed Energy Generation?
2.3  Defining Small Wind Systems
2.4  Status of the Small Wind Market
2.4.1    Demand for Small Wind Exists Globally
2.4.2    Investment Dollars Drive Technological Development and Market Expansion
2.4.3    Focus of Leading SWT Companies Shifts from the U.S. to the U.K. Market
2.5  Industry Growth Drivers
2.5.1    Global Renewable Energy Generation Trends
2.5.2    Legislative and Regulatory Mandates
2.5.3    Financial Incentives and Public Policies
2.5.3.1    Feed-in Tariffs
2.5.3.2    Grants
2.5.3.3    Interconnection and Permitting Standards
2.5.3.4    Loan Programs
2.5.3.5    Net Metering Policies
2.5.3.6    Property Tax Incentives
2.5.3.7    Public Benefit Funds
2.5.3.8    Rebate Programs
2.5.3.9    Renewable Portfolio Standards
2.5.3.10  Sales Tax Incentives
2.5.3.11  Renewable Energy Certificates
2.5.4    Asset Ownership
2.5.5    Improvements to Existing Technologies
2.5.5.1    Small Wind Technology Innovations
2.5.6    Microgrids
2.5.7    Other Drivers
2.5.7.1    Push for Energy Independence and Energy Security
2.5.7.2    Benefits of Green Marketing
2.5.7.3    World Demand and Pricing of Fossil Fuels
2.6  Implementation Issues
2.6.1    Grid Interconnection
2.6.2    Grid Integrity and Safety
2.6.3    Standards and Permitting

3.     Technology Issues
3.1  Basic Principles
3.1.1    Types
3.1.1.1    Horizontal Axis
3.1.1.2    Vertical Axis
3.1.2    Strengths and Weaknesses
3.1.3    Cost
3.1.4    Efficiency
3.1.5    Reliability
3.1.6    Scalability
3.1.7    Availability
3.2  Grid-Tied vs. Off-Grid Installations
3.3  Small Wind Applications
3.3.1    Residential
3.3.2    Commercial/Retail
3.3.3    Government and Institutions
3.3.4    Farms
3.3.5    Telecom Primary and Backup Power
3.3.6    Marine, Remote Monitoring, and Security
3.3.7    Hybrid Systems
3.3.8    Community Projects
3.3.8.1  Community Wind

4.     Demand Drivers
4.1  Developed Nations vs. Developing Nations
4.2  North America
4.2.1    United States
4.2.1.1    Federal Level
4.2.1.2    State Level
4.2.2    Canada
4.2.3    Mexico
4.3  Europe
4.3.1    Germany
4.3.2    Spain
4.3.3    Italy
4.3.4    United Kingdom
4.3.5    France
4.3.6    European Union
4.3.7    Rest of Europe
4.4  Asia Pacific
4.4.1    China
4.4.2    Japan
4.4.3    South Korea
4.4.4    Australia
4.4.5    India
4.5  Rest of World
4.5.1    Africa
4.5.2    The Middle East
4.6  Conventional Energy Sources
4.6.1    Fuel Supply and Demand
4.7  Electricity Rates
4.8  Cost/kWh:  Small Wind vs. Conventional Sources
4.9  Permitting and Siting Centralized Plants

5.     Competitive Landscape
5.1  Small Wind Systems
5.2  Key Players
5.2.1    Bergey Wind Power
5.2.2    Endurance Energy
5.2.3    Northern Power Systems
5.2.4    Southwest Windpower
5.2.5    Wind Turbine Industries Corporation

6.     Market Forecasts
6.1  World Renewable Distributed Energy Generation
6.2  Small Wind Systems
6.2.1    North America
6.2.2    Europe
6.2.3    Asia Pacific
6.2.4    Rest of World
6.2.4.1    The Middle East
6.2.4.2    Africa

7.     Company Directory

8.     Acronym and Abbreviation List

9.     Table of Contents

10.   Table of Charts and Figures

11.   Scope of Study, Sources and Methodology, Notes

List of Charts and Figures

Small Wind Turbine Installations, World Markets: 2006-2011
Small Wind Turbine Systems Annual Capacity of Installed Systems, World Markets: 2006-2011F
Annual RDEG Capacity Additions, World Markets: 2009-2015
Small Wind System Installed Capacity Additions, World Markets: 2009A-2015
Small Wind System Installed Revenue, World Markets: 2009-2015
Small Wind System Installed Capacity Additions, Amercias: 2009A-2015
Small Wind System Installed Capacity Additions, Europe: 2009A-2015
Distributed PV Annual Capacity Additions, Asia Pacific: 2009-2015
Small Wind System Installed Capacity Additions, Middle East & Africa and Rest of World: 2009A-2015
Small Wind Installed Capacity, World Markets: 2009A-2015
Forecasted Energy Use by Fuel Type through 2035
EIA Forecasts of Net Electricity Generation Fuels: 2007-2035
Cumulative Installed Capacity by Region and Technology: 2009
Renewable Energy Share of Global Electricity Production: 2010
Basic Wind Turbine Designs
Representative Global Deployments of Telecom Backup Power by Technology
Renewable Portfolio Standards by State
Cumulative Number of Installed Small Wind Systems by System Size, United Kingdom: 2005-2011
Average Household Electricity Rates in Select Countries: 2009
Average Industrial Electricity Rates in Select Countries:  2009
Comparative Cost of New Generation by Source: 2008

List of Tables

Distributed Energy Generation Technology Comparison
Price Summary for Small Wind Feed-in Tariffs, World Markets: 2011
Global Summary – Renewable Energy Policies and Incentives
Small Wind Turbine Capacity Additions & Installations, World Markets: 2006-2011F
Small Wind Turbine Systems Annual Number of Systems Installed, World Markets: 2006-2011F
Small Wind Turbine Systems Annual Capacity of Installed Systems, World Markets: 2005-2011F
Wind System Strengths and Weaknesses
Global Summary – Renewable Energy Policies and Incentives
Top Small Wind Turbine Manufacturers by Kilowatts Sold: 2009
Top Wind Turbine Manufacturers by Number of Turbines Sold
Annual Growth of Small Wind Capacity, World Markets: 2009-2015
Small Wind System Installed Capacity Additions, World Markets: 2009-2015
Average Small Wind System Installed Price, World Markets: 2009-2015
Small Wind System Installed Revenue, World Markets: 2009-2015