Data from the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA)
370 GW of globally installed wind capacity = 5% of world's electricity demand
50 GW installed in 2014
45 GW installed in 2014 in 12 leading countries for wind development
23 GW installed in 2014 in China - #1 wind power country
06 GW installed in 2014 in Germany
05 GW installed in 2014 in the US
03 GW installed in 2014 Brazil
Other notable wind countries and capacity by 2014-end: Spain (22.9 GW), India (22.4 GW), UK (11.9 GW), Canada (9.6 GW), France (9.2 GW), Italy (8.6 GW), Sweden (5.4 GW), and Denmark (4.8 GW).
VIDEO: What is demand response?
Nice and simple explanation about demand response from Boston-based ENERNOC - a energy solution provider.
US House approves PTC renewal
The US House of Representatives voted on 03 December 2014 in favour of a bill
that will extend dozens of expired tax breaks through to the end of
2014, including those that support renewable energy sources, such as the
Production Tax Credit (PTC).
Long-term phaseout of the PTC was not supported
The bill was presented on Monday following last week’s collapse of bipartisan negotiations around a package that would have included a longer-term phaseout of the PTC, which primarily benefits the wind industry. The phaseout was originally proposed as a way to wean wind producers off the tax credit.
Eligible projects
The tax breaks adopted on Wednesday include credits to support projects in renewable energy, biofuels and energy efficiency. They are on offer to projects under construction before the credit expires (31.12.2014) or where companies have made a minimum “safe harbor” investment to secure eligibility, meaning some new projects could qualify.
Industry views
Political action group, Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition, stated on Tuesday that wind industry lobbyists believe the extension does not go far enough for companies in the wind industry, as it often takes longer than one year to get projects in the ground.
When the PTC expired in 2013, new wind installations came to a halt, resulting in a 92% drop in new wind projects compared to 2012, a $23bn drop in private investment and nearly 30,000 American jobs were lost, according to the American Wind Energy Association.
Source:Clean Energy Pipeline and ReNews
- The Production Tax Credit (PTC) pays 2.3 cents/kWh during the first 10 years of wind farm operation.
- The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) - another tax break to support renewable energy - is worth up to 30% of the costs of developing and building wind projects.
Long-term phaseout of the PTC was not supported
The bill was presented on Monday following last week’s collapse of bipartisan negotiations around a package that would have included a longer-term phaseout of the PTC, which primarily benefits the wind industry. The phaseout was originally proposed as a way to wean wind producers off the tax credit.
Eligible projects
The tax breaks adopted on Wednesday include credits to support projects in renewable energy, biofuels and energy efficiency. They are on offer to projects under construction before the credit expires (31.12.2014) or where companies have made a minimum “safe harbor” investment to secure eligibility, meaning some new projects could qualify.
Industry views
Political action group, Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition, stated on Tuesday that wind industry lobbyists believe the extension does not go far enough for companies in the wind industry, as it often takes longer than one year to get projects in the ground.
When the PTC expired in 2013, new wind installations came to a halt, resulting in a 92% drop in new wind projects compared to 2012, a $23bn drop in private investment and nearly 30,000 American jobs were lost, according to the American Wind Energy Association.
Source:Clean Energy Pipeline and ReNews
Good lessons from Texas about preparing transmission infrastructure for onshore wind
These articles below from reNews and the US Energy Information Administration describe how Texas successfully prepared the transmission infrastructure for the development of onshore wind in the state.
Texas trumpets wind gains
The construction of more than 3500 miles of transmission lines in Texas has significantly reduced curtailment of wind generation in the state.
The US Energy Information Administration said Texas’ Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) program has also cut instances of wind-related negative electricity prices.
The Texas grid experienced major transmission congestion when more than 7GW of utility-scale wind capacity was built in 2006 to 2009.
To address the wind-related transmission constraints, the state established five CREZ areas with high wind power potential. It authorized a series of transmission expansion projects that in total would allow 18.5GW of wind power to be transported from the five zones to the rest of the state.
All of the CREZ projects had been energized by the end of 2013 at a total cost of $7bn.
The elimination of transmission constraints has also helped wind generation in Texas reach new heights over the past year. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas recorded a new peak record for wind output in March 2014 of more than 10,000MW.
http://renews.biz/69340/texas-trumpets-wind-gains/
Curtailments of wind generation on the Texas electric grid have steadily dropped since 2011 as more than 3,500 miles of transmission lines have been built, largely as a result of the state's Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) program. Occurrences of wind-related negative real-time electricity prices have similarly declined as the CREZ transmission expansions have allowed wind power to flow to more electricity demand areas in the state.
Wind capacity in Texas grew rapidly in 2006-09, when more than 7,000 megawatts (MW) of utility-scale wind capacity (more than half of the state's current total wind capacity) was built. The Texas grid experienced major transmission congestion as the large volumes of electricity from these wind plants, which were concentrated in the rural western and northern areas of the state, were sometimes unable to reach the population centers in the eastern half of the state. The limited transmission capacity connecting the wind production and power demand centers was insufficient for the amount of wind power being generated in the west. During these situations, excess wind generation was curtailed by the grid's operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), in order to keep the transmission network operating within its physical limits.
In addition to wind curtailments, the regional supply and demand imbalances caused real-time wholesale electricity prices at the West Hub in ERCOT to drop, and even go negative, during periods of substantial wind generation. The negative West Hub prices (see graph above) reflect the region's local oversupply of wind power compared to its electric demand and the inability to move the excess wind power to other areas with more demand. Negative prices occur when generators are willing to pay for the opportunity to continue generating electricity.
Wind plants can offer power at low prices because they have low operating costs and, in particular, no fuel costs, unlike fossil fuel and biomass plants. Wind plants can offer negative prices because of the revenue stream that results from the federal production tax credit, which generates tax benefits whenever the wind plant is producing electricity, and payments from state renewable portfolio or financial incentive programs. These alternative revenue streams make it possible for wind generators to offer their wind power into the wholesale electricity market at prices lower than other generators, and even at negative prices.
To address the wind-related transmission constraints, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) in 2008 established five "competitive renewable energy zones" (CREZ) with high wind power potential and authorized a series of transmission expansion projects that in total would allow 18,500 MW of wind power to be transported from the five CREZ zones to the rest of the state.
As the CREZ transmission projects have been completed over the past few years (see maps below), the amounts of wind curtailments and wind-related negative electricity prices have correspondingly decreased (as seen in the first graph). As of the end of 2013, the scheduled program completion date, all of the CREZ projects had been energized, at a total cost of $7 billion.
The elimination of transmission constraints has helped wind generation in Texas reach new heights over the past year. As reported in yesterday's article, ERCOT recently recorded a new peak record for wind output in March 2014 of over 10,000 MW. And according to ERCOT's annual report on the Texas renewable energy credit trading program, wind generation in the state was up 13% in 2013 compared to 2012. The growth is mostly attributable to the large number of wind plants added at the very end of 2012 (more than 1,000 MW was added in December 2012), but also partly a result of the reduction in wind curtailments.
Texas trumpets wind gains
The construction of more than 3500 miles of transmission lines in Texas has significantly reduced curtailment of wind generation in the state.
The US Energy Information Administration said Texas’ Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) program has also cut instances of wind-related negative electricity prices.
The Texas grid experienced major transmission congestion when more than 7GW of utility-scale wind capacity was built in 2006 to 2009.
To address the wind-related transmission constraints, the state established five CREZ areas with high wind power potential. It authorized a series of transmission expansion projects that in total would allow 18.5GW of wind power to be transported from the five zones to the rest of the state.
All of the CREZ projects had been energized by the end of 2013 at a total cost of $7bn.
The elimination of transmission constraints has also helped wind generation in Texas reach new heights over the past year. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas recorded a new peak record for wind output in March 2014 of more than 10,000MW.
http://renews.biz/69340/texas-trumpets-wind-gains/
Fewer wind curtailments and negative power prices seen in
Texas after major grid expansion
Curtailments of wind generation on the Texas electric grid have steadily dropped since 2011 as more than 3,500 miles of transmission lines have been built, largely as a result of the state's Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) program. Occurrences of wind-related negative real-time electricity prices have similarly declined as the CREZ transmission expansions have allowed wind power to flow to more electricity demand areas in the state.
Wind capacity in Texas grew rapidly in 2006-09, when more than 7,000 megawatts (MW) of utility-scale wind capacity (more than half of the state's current total wind capacity) was built. The Texas grid experienced major transmission congestion as the large volumes of electricity from these wind plants, which were concentrated in the rural western and northern areas of the state, were sometimes unable to reach the population centers in the eastern half of the state. The limited transmission capacity connecting the wind production and power demand centers was insufficient for the amount of wind power being generated in the west. During these situations, excess wind generation was curtailed by the grid's operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), in order to keep the transmission network operating within its physical limits.
In addition to wind curtailments, the regional supply and demand imbalances caused real-time wholesale electricity prices at the West Hub in ERCOT to drop, and even go negative, during periods of substantial wind generation. The negative West Hub prices (see graph above) reflect the region's local oversupply of wind power compared to its electric demand and the inability to move the excess wind power to other areas with more demand. Negative prices occur when generators are willing to pay for the opportunity to continue generating electricity.
Wind plants can offer power at low prices because they have low operating costs and, in particular, no fuel costs, unlike fossil fuel and biomass plants. Wind plants can offer negative prices because of the revenue stream that results from the federal production tax credit, which generates tax benefits whenever the wind plant is producing electricity, and payments from state renewable portfolio or financial incentive programs. These alternative revenue streams make it possible for wind generators to offer their wind power into the wholesale electricity market at prices lower than other generators, and even at negative prices.
To address the wind-related transmission constraints, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) in 2008 established five "competitive renewable energy zones" (CREZ) with high wind power potential and authorized a series of transmission expansion projects that in total would allow 18,500 MW of wind power to be transported from the five CREZ zones to the rest of the state.
As the CREZ transmission projects have been completed over the past few years (see maps below), the amounts of wind curtailments and wind-related negative electricity prices have correspondingly decreased (as seen in the first graph). As of the end of 2013, the scheduled program completion date, all of the CREZ projects had been energized, at a total cost of $7 billion.
The elimination of transmission constraints has helped wind generation in Texas reach new heights over the past year. As reported in yesterday's article, ERCOT recently recorded a new peak record for wind output in March 2014 of over 10,000 MW. And according to ERCOT's annual report on the Texas renewable energy credit trading program, wind generation in the state was up 13% in 2013 compared to 2012. The growth is mostly attributable to the large number of wind plants added at the very end of 2012 (more than 1,000 MW was added in December 2012), but also partly a result of the reduction in wind curtailments.
http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=16831
What is a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)?
This video is useful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3jH_sBlXMs
Ill-fated Bard Offshore 1 Wind Farm
Germany's first commercial offshore wind farm BARD Offshore 1 is located in the North Sea, about 90 kilometres northwest of the island of Borkum. The project consists of 80 BARD 5.0 MW turbines. The project owner is BARD (92.5%) and Enovos (7.5%). BARD is owned by HypoVereinsbank (HVB), part of UniCredit. The foundation type is tripile supplied by Cuxhaven Steel Construction. The estimated annual electric power output can meet the needs of 223,660 households in the region.
On January 19, 2012, it was announced that Bard Offshore 1 wind farm in the German North Sea was set to cost Eur2.9 billion (USD3.7 billion), more than a billion euros in excess of the originally planned cost. The cost increase is linked to delays of more than two years caused by technical problems. The wind farm’s construction began in 2009 and was completed in July 2013.
To make matters worse, power export from the project has been halted from October 2013 to January 2014 due to problems on the ABB-built BorWin1 HVDC transmission platform which connects the wind farm to the mainland substations.
The project then “faced technical problems in restarting the engines” after a three-month standstill in a winter environment. “Access to the turbines was restricted in light of wave heights prohibiting safe operations,” a spokesman said.
In the following weeks in January and February 2014, Bard experienced repeated and unplanned interruptions of grid availability. “The precise technical reasons were not disclosed,” he said.
These problems have hit the reputation of Germany’s infant offshore wind industry.
Onshore wind is the cheapest source of electric power in Europe, said EDP
Onshore wind has become the cheapest form of energy in Europe according to Portuguese utility EDP's Investor Day 2014 presentation in London on 14 May 2014.
The levelised cost of energy (LCOE) of onshore wind power in Europe in 2012 was 68 euros per MWh, 20% cheaper than natural gas and nuclear, and one third cheaper than coal. By comparison, offshore wind is almost three times more expensive.
Neto told the analysts that wind energy is also cheaper than gas in key emerging markets such as Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, and major Asian markets.
Source: http://streamstudio.world-television.com/CCUIv3/frameset.aspx?ticket=889-1181-14392&target=en-default-&status=ondemand&browser=ns-0-0-0-13-0&stream=flash-video-500
The levelised cost of energy (LCOE) of onshore wind power in Europe in 2012 was 68 euros per MWh, 20% cheaper than natural gas and nuclear, and one third cheaper than coal. By comparison, offshore wind is almost three times more expensive.
Neto told the analysts that wind energy is also cheaper than gas in key emerging markets such as Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, and major Asian markets.
Source: http://streamstudio.world-television.com/CCUIv3/frameset.aspx?ticket=889-1181-14392&target=en-default-&status=ondemand&browser=ns-0-0-0-13-0&stream=flash-video-500
List of offshore wind farms in Germany
Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency
http://www.bsh.de/de/Meeresnutzung/Wirtschaft/Windparks/
Offshore Windenergie
http://www.offshore-windenergie.net/en/wind-farm/authorized/sandbank-24
Development of wind turbine rotor size over time
Source: http://www.vattenfall.co.uk/en/file/Wind_power-ENG.pdf_16636463.pdf
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