African Large-Scale Wind Turbine Market

This Frost & Sullivan research service titled African Large-Scale Wind Turbine Market provides an in-depth analysis of the market drivers, equipment suppliers and industry challenges in the African wind power market. In this research, Frost & Sullivan’s expert analysts thoroughly examine the following regional wind power markets: North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. This research service focuses on the following product segments of the large-scale wind turbine market: 600 kW, 660-850 kW and greater than 850 kW.

Market Overview

Growing Demand for Electricity Drives the African Large-scale Wind Turbine Market

Despite its potential, the African large-scale wind turbine market is yet to contribute significantly to the power sector in the continent. Historically, the low price of electricity generation from traditional feedstock such as coal and natural gas has limited the interest in renewable energy power generation.

However, higher-than-anticipated economic growth in African states in the last five years has led to a rapid increase in electricity demand, along with a renewed interest in alternative forms of power generation. ‘As a result of public pressure to provide reliable power supply, governments in Africa are investing more time and resources into exploring renewable energy for power generation,’ says the analyst of this research. ‘The success of the wind power market in Europe and the United States has convinced many governments that wind power can assist in alleviating some of the power shortages in the continent.’

Wind power projects between 120 MW and 300 MW have been announced in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Africa. In North Africa, the Zafarana wind site in Egypt continues to increase its installed capacity, and interest is growing in the Algerian, Tunisian and Moroccan wind power markets.

A major challenge to market expansion is that the power sector in many African countries is still regulated by monopoly control. Thus, the onus of meeting electricity demand is the sole responsibility of utilities. ‘Moreover, there are other restraints such as aging infrastructure, over-reliance on single feedstocks for power generation, and the lack of capital for electrical infrastructure refurbishment,’ explains the analyst. ‘This has resulted in many countries failing to meet the rising electricity demand.’

Strategic consultation among equipment suppliers, project developers and government institutions on key issues such as grid capacity will promote the market prospects. The level of government support for renewable energy projects will also be a key to the growth of the renewable energy power market.

www.researchandmarkets.com/research/112c4b/african_largescal