Electricity production is one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States. Thus, adoption of wind power generating technologies has become a major way for the United States to diversify its energy portfolio and reach its expressed goal of 80% reduction in green house gas (GHG) emissions by the year 2050.
The benefits of wind power plants include no fuel risk, no carbon dioxide emissions or air pollution, no hazardous waste production, and no need for mining, drilling or transportation of fuel.
Global wind capacity has grown significantly over the past decade. Today more than 70 countries around the world are producing electricity from wind energy. However, wind power is still a heavily concentrated market, with Europe and the United States accounting for about 80% of global installed capacity. Wind turbine and component manufacturing has been dominated by European companies since the technology is mature in Europe, but competition has increased as the wind industry has expanded globally. In 2008 the United States became the world leader in total wind power installed capacity, and the country is developing a niche in wind turbine manufacturing.
Several leading original equipment manufacturers—or OEMs, the main finished wind turbine firms—have established, or plan to open, manufacturing facilities in the United States, and U.S.-based companies are also expanding their facilities to meet increasing demand. The U.S. wind power market has grown rapidly in recent years as technology improvements have helped reduce cost. The growth of the wind power industry in the United States is attributable to improvements in wind technology, increasingly supportive policies, and the growing interest in renewable energy resources. This growth has led to a surge in wind turbine component manufacturing around the country and the creation of thousands of jobs in many related sectors.
Investment in wind power offers substantial benefits for the domestic manufacturing sector. In only four years, the share of parts manufactured domestically has grown from 30% to 50%. Continued government support of renewable energy programs could enable the United States to establish further domestic manufacturing capacity and gain a competitive edge in the global wind turbine manufacturing industry. There are over 8,000 precision parts in a single wind turbine, many already manufactured by U.S. companies. In addition to creating new jobs, the wind industry is positioned to help revive manufacturing jobs that have been lost in other sectors, including the motor vehicle industry; for instance, auto supplier firms are capable of transitioning to wind component manufacturing, primarily for small-scale wind projects.
This report focuses on the companies that manufacture Tier 1 and Tier 2 parts for the utility-scale or large wind power industry. Examples of other components in a wind turbine that are not highlighted in this report include lubricants, wiring, fiberglass housing, concrete & steel foundations, seals, power transmission equipment, printed circuits, motors and generators, and measuring devices. The report presents a value chain analysis of the wind power industry and illustrates the job potential in manufacturing, construction, transportation, and operations and maintenance services.
Introduction
Wind energy is a clean, low cost energy resource that offers the security of a renewable energy supply. Harnessed wind energy can be used to generate electricity that can power millions of homes and businesses. The wind power industry has the potential to become the cornerstone for global reliance on renewable energy. Many countries have begun to invest in the development of wind power as energy prices and environmental concerns underscore the need for economically viable and environmentally sustainable energy sources.
In May 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced an expected increase of world energy consumption by 44% over the next two decades. If attempts are not made to find suitable alternatives to energy production from fossil fuels, this could result in a 40% increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions worldwide by 2030. In the United States alone, annual electricity consumption is estimated to grow at a rate of 1.3% annually, meaning that consumption could reach 5.4 billion megawatt hours (MWh) by 2030 (U.S. DOE, 2008). To meet 20% of that demand, U.S. wind power capacity would have to reach more than 300,000 MW, a significant increase from the 28,000 MW currently being produced.
Power generation from fossil fuels is the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, and it accounts for 39% of total CO2 emissions in 2007. The main sources of power generation currently being used in the United States are coal (49%), natural gas (22%), nuclear (20%), hydropower (6%), and petroleum/petroleum coke (1%). Although wind turbine technology has enabled wind energy to become a viable source for power generation, wind currently provides only about 1% of total U.S. electricity generation. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has projected that global electricity demand will double by 2030, growing at 2.6% per year. Energy prices, supply uncertainties and environmental concerns have compelled the United States to work towards greater energy efficiency. In 2007, a collaborative effort to explore a modeled energy scenario in which wind provides 20% of U.S. electricity by 2030 was established as part of government efforts to diversify the domestic energy portfolio.
Wind energy is the fastest growing source of electricity generation in terms of annual installed capacity. Global wind capacity has grown at an average rate of 30% per year over the past decade. In 2003, the global wind energy industry installed 8,344 megawatts (MW) of new capacity, an investment of $9 billion. That year, the cumulative worldwide installed capacity reached 40 GW and provided about 0.5% of the world’s electricity demand. In 2008, more than 27 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity was installed worldwide, bringing the total global installed capacity to over 120 GW. The United States currently generates 29,440 MW of electricity from wind. This is enough to power approximately 8 million American homes.
Greater adoption of wind power also presents enormous potential for new business opportunities in materials innovation and manufacturing. Many wind turbine components involve labor-intensive manufacturing processes. There are over 8,000 precision parts in a single wind turbine, ranging from the steel tower and high-tech composites for blades, to gearboxes, bearings, electrical wiring, and power electronics. As the supply chain for the wind industry is formed to meet increasing demand, new opportunities are being created for suppliers and manufacturers to become involved. Although the majority of wind turbines currently installed in the United States are imported from Europe and Asia, the percentage of wind turbine parts being manufactured domestically grew from less than 30% in 2005 to 50% in 2008, by value. At least 55 wind turbine and wind turbine component manufacturing facilities were added or expanded in 2008, which led to the direct creation of 13,000 new jobs. The following sections will highlight the growth and potential for future development of the U.S. wind industry.
Wind Turbine Technology
A wind turbine is a rotating machine that converts the wind’s kinetic energy to mechanical energy. This mechanical energy is then converted into electricity by a generator, without the emission of pollutants or green house gases. For centuries windmills have been used to harness wind energy, generally to power a piece of machinery such as a grinder for grain, and wind turbines are the modern equivalent. Turbines have three classifications, based on size and production capacity: utility-scale, industrial/commercial-scale and residential-scale.
Utility and industrial/commercial-scale turbines are used to provide bulk power to an electric grid for use at an offsite location. Single small turbines are for standalone applications –residential use, water pumping, or telecommunications purposes. Small turbines can be used as “hybrid systems,” in connection with batteries, diesel generators, or photovoltaic (solar cell) systems. This allows them to provide constant power to remote, off-grid locations, when connection to a utility grid is too expensive or not feasible.
Wind turbines typically have between one and three blades and are configured as horizontal axis or vertical axis turbines. Horizontal axis machines can generate wind energy in low wind speeds. Vertical axis wind turbines are most suitable for use in urban locations not affected by significant, rapid changes in wind direction. Most modern wind turbines are horizontal axis machines with two or three
blades, usually operating upwind. Horizontal wind turbines operating upwind, predominantly used in the industry, are the main focus of this report.
In the United States, all commercially available, utility scale wind turbines utilize the “Danish concept” wind turbine configuration, which uses a horizontal axis, three-bladed rotor, an upwind orientation, and an active yaw system to keep the rotor oriented into the wind. However, a few OEMs, including Nordic, have plans to open facilities that manufacture two-bladed wind turbine models. Wind turbines are mounted on a tower, usually about 100 or more feet above the ground, enabling them to take advantage of faster, less turbulent wind. Wind turbine sizes have increased because research has shown that larger size results in greater capacity. Since 1980, wind turbines have grown from 100 kW machines with a 17-meter rotor diameter to multimegawatt machines with rotor diameters of over 100-meters. By 2005, turbines with capacities as large as 5 MW were being tested. Most wind turbines begin to produce power at speeds of approximately 9 miles per hour (mph), achieve rated power at approximately 29 mph, and stop power production at 56 mph.
A single 750 kilowatt (kW) wind turbine produces approximately 2 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity every year. An average U.S. household annually uses about 10,655 kWh of electricity. One megawatt of wind energy can generate between 2.4 million kWh and over 3 million kWh annually. Therefore, a megawatt of wind generates about as much electricity as 225 to 300 households use. The number of “homes served” is simply a way to quantify electricity production in familiar terms that are easy for people to understand. It is important to note that the wind does not blow constantly, and thus cannot be the only source of power for that many homes without a storage system.
Offshore Wind
Offshore wind energy installations could help the United States meet its alternative energy needs. Wind tends to be stronger and less turbulent offshore, making such areas good locations for wind farm installations. These offshore locations also can accommodate larger wind turbines with greater energy production capacities. Many offshore wind farms have been proposed and developed in Europe, where land space is limited. In the United States, more than 2,000 MW of offshore wind projects have been proposed, but the country has yet to install its first offshore wind farm. Although offshore wind farms offer numerous benefits, opposition to their development has been strong because of concerns about the impacts on migratory birds and marine species, commercial fishing, tourism, and property values. NIMBY (not in my backyard) opposition and concern about the aesthetics of wind turbines has also affected support of offshore wind farm development. These concerns need to be considered and addressed as offshore wind development proceeds in the United States.
The U.S. Department of Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) are the main agencies involved in approving renewable energy projects on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). MMS has exclusive jurisdiction over all such projects. In April 2009, the Department of Interior finalized a long-awaited framework for energy production on the OCS (Minerals Management Service, 2009). This framework established a program that grants leases, easements, and rights-of-way for renewable energy development activities, such as offshore wind farm installations, to be located on the OCS.
In May 2009 a proposal to build the Cape Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts won permit requirements, and developers plan to begin construction in early 2009. In June 2009, Deepwater Wind LLC and three other companies were granted leases to build offshore research towers off the coasts of New Jersey and Delaware. The leases will allow the companies to conduct tests on wind farms at five different sites and gather important meteorological information and data on wind speeds. If the tests are successful, and the five proposed wind farms are built, their capacity would equal 1,750 MW, or enough power for 500,000 to 625,000 households. If construction of the Cape Wind project progresses as planned, offshore wind power is likely to become a viable source of renewable energy for the United States as early as 2011 or 2012.
Value Chain
Improvements in performance, reliability and cost have led to the success and growth of the wind industry. U.S. turbine technology has advanced to offer improved performance, and manufacturers have expanded their capacity to produce durable, high-quality components. The wind power value chain incorporates five main stages: materials; components; manufacture; logistics, development and operations (which includes project development, geotechnical services, transportation, construction, and operations and maintenance); and end use.
U.S. companies have a presence in each sector of the value chain, from materials production and component manufacturing to project development and construction. Thus, increased adoption of wind power technologies could have significant positive economic implications for the United States. Prior to the current economic recession, manufacturers faced a shortage of both domestic and international suppliers of wind turbine subcomponents for the rapidly growing industry. Currently, however, with orders and manufacturing slowing due to the downturn, such shortages have, for now, abated. The wind industry’s supply needs include gearboxes, bearings, turbine generators, fabricated parts, power transmission devices, and electrical equipment.
Materials and Components
There are an estimated 8,000 parts in a wind turbine, but for the purpose of this report we have simplified the components into four categories: the rotor, the nacelle and controls, the generator and power electronics, and the turbine tower. The rotor includes the blades, which harness wind energy and convert it into mechanical energy, as well as a hub, which supports the blades. The generator
and power electronics system includes the drivetrain, a generator – which converts mechanical energy into electricity – a yaw drive to rotate the nacelle, and electronic controls.
The rapid growth of the wind power industry in recent years has put enormous pressure on component suppliers to meet the demands of the market. Wind turbine manufacturers are therefore resorting to various strategies such as vertical integration and signing long-term contracts with suppliers. As the wind power industry continues to expand opportunities will be created for many companies to become involved across the value chain.
Wind turbines are massive machines that typically weigh between 200 and 400 tons. A wide range of materials are used for wind turbine construction. Steel is one of the most important materials because of its strength and durability. Turbines are primarily made of steel, which accounts for 90% of the machine by weight. Every year the wind industry uses thousands of tons of steel for production of turbine components. A single 1 MW utility scale wind turbine tower is constructed from an estimated 100 tons of steel, and larger turbines use a significantly greater amount of steel. The rotor is constructed from approximately 45% steel, with the hub being made of 100% steel, and the blades being made up of 2% steel and a combination of fiberglass (78%) and adhesive (15%). Steel accounts for between 87% and 92% of nacelle components.
Vestas, one of the leading wind turbine manufacturers in the world, uses an estimated 400,000 tons of steel annually for turbine tower production. Wind turbine material usage is, and will continue to be, dominated by steel; however, aluminum and other light weight composites (hybrid fibers) could potentially be used as alternatives, primarily for blade manufacturing, as long as strength and fatigue requirements can be met. Pre-stressed concrete, which is used for turbine tower fabrication, is also a key material. A 44 MW wind power project, with 29 individual wind turbine towers, could use an estimated 12,470 tons of concrete, 6,500 tons of steel, and 609 tons of composite fiberglass.
The most significant shortage in the wind industry is the availability of large bearings, which are used in gearboxes. Defective gearboxes are the main cause of wind turbine failure; therefore these components need to be manufactured to the highest quality. Large bearings are manufactured by a small number of companies (about half a dozen worldwide). The shortage of supply of large bearings also affects turbine manufactures, because these bearings are needed for rotor pitch systems, yaw mechanisms and nacelle assembly. The primary material supply bottleneck for wind turbine manufacturing is the availability of permanent magnets, which are used in generator rotors. Availability of rare-earth permanent magnets is a concern because the key magnetic materials are not obtainable in large quantities in the United States. Supply constraints for copper and laminate steel, used for generator manufacturing, are also a concern, making generators another major component supply bottleneck. The shortage of bearing-quality steel, which is needed for large bearing production, is also a materials pinch point.
Research and Development
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) is one the leading wind power technology research facilities in the United States. The NWTC assists the U.S. wind industry in developing cost-effective, high performance wind turbine technologies. NREL researchers work with industry partners to research, design, build, test, and refine advanced wind turbine designs. The NREL is also involved in utility grid integration research.
Early equipment fatigue, especially in wind turbine gearboxes and power electronics systems, can greatly reduce wind turbine performance and raise wind turbine costs. In 2007, a multi-year Gearbox Reliability Collaborative was set up to improve the reliability of gearboxes, through comprehensive laboratory testing, field testing analysis and modeling. The Collaborative includes the NREL, wind turbine manufacturers, gearbox manufacturers, expert consultants, and other industry participants.
In wind turbines, power electronics are generally variable speed drives (VSD) that enable the machines to run smoothly and
continuously, regardless of wind speed. Research and development of power electronics systems is important because power production in wind turbines is controlled by these systems. Power electronics enable wind turbine systems to perform like power plants, making them an active power source from an energy source. Most of the research and development for power electronics systems focus specifically on silicon carbide (SiC) based power converters.
SiC devices could substantially reduce the cost of energy of large wind turbines that use power electronics for variable-speed generation systems. Variable speed capability allows wind turbines to operate more efficiently at the speed that produces the most power increasing energy production. Using SiC in power devices has several advantages because of this material’s unique characteristics, including lower losses, higher temperature, and faster switching. Technological advancements in power electronics systems for wind turbines will help reduce manufacturing costs, improve reliability and performance of turbines and increase energy production capacity.
Considerable research and development for the wind power industry focuses on finding alternatives to traditional materials. The U.S. DOE Wind Program is one of several organizations actively involved in researching materials options for wind turbine blades. Wind program researchers are developing new blade material options, including carbon, carbon/glass hybrids, and S-glass. These advanced materials will reduce the weight of blades while increasing strength and flexibility.
To ensure the continued growth of the domestic wind power industry, the Wind Program collaborates with U.S. manufacturers to develop advanced fabrication techniques and automation processes. The U.S. DOE also supports research and development activities through a number of its national laboratories. Universities, firms that specialize in wind power research and development (R&D), and wind energy companies, including GE, Siemens and Vestas, are also actively involved in wind power R&D. This focus on fabrication and materials research ensures that the United States will continue to remain at the forefront of wind power technology development.
Wind Turbine Manufacturing
The rapid expansion of the U.S. wind power market and the demand for wind turbines has accelerated growth in the manufacturing sector and attracted the participation of large and small manufacturers. The global wind turbine manufacturing industry is dominated by a small number of OEMs, including Vestas (17.8% of the global market for wind turbines), GE (16.7%), Gamesa (10.8%), Enercon (9.0%), Suzlon (8.1%), Siemens (6.2%), Sinovel (4.5%), Acciona (4.1%), Goldwind (3.6%), Nordex (3.4%), Dongfang (3.4%), Repower (3.0%), and Mitsubishi (2.6%). GE Energy is the leading U.S. wind turbine manufacturer, with 43% of the newly installed capacity in 2008, and over 48% of the more than 5,000 wind turbines that have been installed throughout the country over the past few years. Other leading turbine manufacturers with some U.S. manufacturing involvement include Vestas, Siemens, Suzlon, Gamesa, Clipper, Mitsubishi, and Acciona WP. Although the leading companies account for about 98% of the new capacity added each year, new companies are entering the U.S. market, including Acciona, REpower, Fuhrlander, DeWind, and AWE. U.S. manufacturers are also the world leaders in both market and technology development of small wind turbine systems rated 100 kW or less.
Wind turbine component manufacturing in the United States is growing rapidly. The market share of domestically manufactured wind turbine components was approximately 50% in 2008. However, the country is still a heavy importer of wind turbines. According to U.S. Customs data, in 2008, $2.5 billion worth of wind turbine imports came from Europe and Asia, a sevenfold increase in imports over the 2003 figure of $356 million. According to U.S. Department of Commerce statistics, in 2008 the majority of wind turbine component imports came from Denmark (28.2%), Spain (26.7%), Germany (11.9%), India (7.1%), and the United Kingdom (5.5%). U.S. imports of parts for motors and generators, blades and other turbine components increased from $363 million in 2003 to $1.8 billion in 20086. There has also been an increase in imports of generators for nacelles because of the rise in domestic production of nacelles.
During this period, U.S. exports also increased, but at a much slower rate: from $0.7 million to $22.1 million. The United States exports wind turbine components primarily to China, Brazil and Canada. U.S. exports of wind turbines and components have been limited and sporadic, but export and overseas investment opportunities have grown in recent years. Exports of wind turbines and blades are increasing slowly, and a number of tower and blade manufacturers, including Acciona Energy, CTC/DeWind, Nordic Windpower, and LM Glasfiber, have established manufacturing facilities in the United States, with the possibility of supplying markets throughout the Americas. These numbers show the rising demand for wind power products both in the United States and internationally and indicate the enormous potential for the U.S. manufacturing sector to grow as the wind power industry expands.
Many foreign-based OEMs have plans to open or expand manufacturing facilities in the United States. This will enable them to reduce transportation costs, avoid import duties, alleviate risks from currency fluctuations, and ease logistical difficulties. The Danish company Vestas, the world’s largest manufacturer of utility-scale wind turbines, plans to begin production at its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Windsor, Colorado in 2010. This manufacturing plant will produce about 1,000 wind turbines per year. In states such as Michigan and Ohio, whose manufacturing industries have been crippled by the economic crisis, there is potential to benefit from the growth of the wind power industry. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation estimates that approximately 700 companies in Michigan are emerging wind power manufacturing industry participants. According to Ohio’s Department of Economic Development, 532 companies in the state are involved, or have plans to become involved in the wind supply chain; 88 of these companies are currently directly involved in the wind industry.
Investment in wind power offers substantial benefits for the domestic manufacturing sector. Aside from the creation of new jobs, the wind industry is positioned to help revive manufacturing jobs that have been lost in the motor vehicle industry and other sectors. Companies in the auto industry are capable of transitioning to wind component manufacturing, primarily for small-scale wind projects. Auto manufacturers can retrofit automation manufacturing facilities and employ former auto workers who have experience working with steel and the expertise to handle the advanced precision manufacturing needs of the wind industry. Workers involved in the manufacture of components, such as industrial brakes and gearboxes, can easily make the transition to wind component manufacturing because the equipment and building processes for auto parts and these wind power components are similar. However, wind manufacturers are not necessarily seeking suppliers involved in huge production runs, therefore auto manufacturers interested in becoming involved in wind turbine manufacturing need to make the switch from “high volume, low margin” to “low volume, high margin” production .
Wind Project Development
Wind power project development for commercial-scale wind farms is a multifaceted, lengthy process that poses many challenges, often requiring collaborative efforts among several companies. Project developers perform wind power feasibility analysis, site selection, wind farm design and layout, wind turbine selection and acquisition, obtaining federal and state permits, construction contracting, acquiring wind rights and leases, energy production estimates, and
project financing.
Wind power project developers are responsible for establishing access to capital for investment. In 2008, the average wind project installation cost $1,915/kW. The average reported cost from a sample of more than 3,600 MW of proposed projects for 2009 is $2,120/kW. Wind project developers also have to invest in roads that can accommodate the transport of heavy industrial equipment and components. The wind project developer has a managing interest in the project when it is complete, but may not have complete ownership.
Wind Turbine Transportation
Transporting wind turbines presents unique challenges and opportunities. Transporting these machines involves handling components that have an unusual weight, length and shape; thus companies that serve the industry must have equipment to transport very large and heavy cargo. The nacelles, blades, and turbine towers must be transported from the manufacturing facility to the wind farm location. The wind turbine industry needs to rely on collaborative transportation management processes, whereby manufacturers, logistics companies, transportation companies, and shipping ports share information and integrate their functions to achieve an effective delivery process. Modes of transportation for the wind industry include trucking, shipping and rail freight.
There are considerable opportunities for transportation providers in all sectors to serve the industry. A single wind turbine can require up to eight hauls, and for an entire project of 150 MW, transportation requirements could be as much as 689 truckloads, 140 railcars, and eight ships. As the wind power industry continues to grow, demand increases for companies that are capable of transporting heavy and large loads. This could lead to the emergence of a specialized sector in the transportation industry, potentially creating many jobs throughout the United States.
Wind Project Construction
Companies involved in large scale wind project construction generally offer turnkey arrangements, according to criteria specified in the contract. Turnkey construction contractors provide engineering, procurement and construction services, including civil works, laying cables for electrical infrastructure, and installing wind turbines. On-site construction includes excavating access roads and installing foundations for wind turbines. Geotechnical assessment, an important element of wind farm development, takes place before construction. Wind project developers may choose to hire companies that specialize in geotechnical assessments; however, a number of construction companies offer geotechnical services as part of their turnkey packages.
Operation and Maintenance
The reliability of the turbine system is essential to a wind power project; thus operation and maintenance (O&M) services are critical. Operations include scheduling site personnel, observing turbine operation, dealing with equipment failure, and coordinating with the utility to respond to curtailments or outages. Maintenance includes both scheduled (preventative) services, such as periodic equipment inspections, oil and filter changes, calibration of electronic sensors, blade cleaning, and unscheduled services to repair component malfunctions.
When wind turbines are installed and the wind farm is in use, routine maintenance is important to ensure maximum efficiency and lifespan of the machines. Generally, wind turbine manufacturers service turbines during the first 2-5 years while the wind turbines are still under warranty. Thereafter, wind farm operators may perform maintenance on their own, or subcontract the service to independent service companies. In the United States, companies such as Global Windpower Services, enXco Service Corporation, and SeaWest WindPower specialize in maintenance and repair services, as well as providing operating support, to wind farm operators.
Global Wind Power Market
Wind power has rapidly grown into a mature and successful global business. Over the past decade, global wind capacity has grown at an average rate of 30% per year, and in 2008 more than 27 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity was installed around the world, bringing the total installed capacity to over 120 GW. According to World Wind Energy Association projections, by year 2020, at least 1,500 GW of wind power will be installed around the world, and this will support at least 12% of global electricity consumption. The United States is currently the world leader with 29,440 MW of installed capacity. The other world leaders are Germany (23,903 MW), Spain (16,754 MW), China (12,210 MW), and India (9,645 MW). Although Europe (mostly Germany and Spain) and the United States account for about 80% of the world’s installed wind power capacity, more than 70 countries around the world are producing electricity from wind energy.
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Wind power is the fastest growing power generation technology in the European Union. After the United States, Europe has the second largest market for wind power. In 2008, 43% of all new energy installations were from wind power; gas and oil accounted for only 35% and 13% respectively. The wind power market in Europe has diversified in recent years, and 10 of the 27 EU-member states currently have at least 1 GW of installed wind capacity. In 2008, wind power represented 7.5% of Germany’s electricity consumption, and the wind power industry employed approximately 100,000 people. Spain, Europe’s second largest wind power market, generated 31,000 GW hours of wind energy in 2008, covering more than 11% of the country’s electricity demand. Italy and France have also experienced significant growth in wind power production.
The growth in wind power in Europe has been a major contributor to the economic welfare of the region and provided many employment opportunities. Between 2005 and 2007, 60,000 new jobs were created in the European Union wind energy sector, making a total of 108,600 people directly employed in the industry. There has also been remarkable growth in the wind power market in Asia. By 2007, China – a relative newcomer to the wind business at the time – ranked third in total number of wind installations, and fifth in total installed capacity with over 6 GW (Sawin, 2009). In 2008, the country continued its spectacular growth and added 6.3 GW of installed capacity, bringing the total to 12.2 GW. Other Asian countries with new wind capacity installations in 2008 are India (1,800 MW, for a total of 9.6 GW), Japan (346 MW, for a total of 1.9 GW), Taiwan (81 MW, for a total of 358 MW), and South Korea (43 MW, for a total of 236 MW).
As the global demand for renewable energy resources grows, many countries have begun to put incentives and tariff policies in place, enabling them to remain competitive in the world energy market. The European Union has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting renewable energy generation. To promote the use of renewable energy sources, European governments, including those of Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, and Austria, have established feed-in tariff policies, which ensure that utilities pay a stipulated price for renewable energy. These policies guarantee that utilities enable renewable energy plants to connect to the electricity grid. The utilities are also required to purchase any electricity generated by renewable resources at fixed minimum prices.
In Asia government policies have also led to the growth of the wind power market. China plans to install 30,000 MW of wind energy by 2020, and India plans to install 10,000 MW by 2010. Both countries have put in place tax measures and renewable portfolio standards, which require utility companies to generate a certain percentage of their output from renewable energy resources. The long-term policies that European and Asian governments established have directly led to the growth and development of wind power in these regions.
U.S. Wind Power Market
The United States currently generates 29,440 MW of electricity from wind, enough power to serve over 8 million homes. Since 2000, wind generated electricity has grown by more than 400%. The Department of Energy estimates that with the use of even 6% of U.S. land, more than one and a half times the current electricity consumption could be supplied through wind power (Burleson, 2008). In 2008, the United States became the world leader of total wind capacity installed, surpassing Germany. That year, the U.S. wind industry grew by 50%, adding over 8,500 megawatts (MW) of new wind power capacity to increase the nation’s cumulative total to over 23,000 MW.
New wind projects completed in 2008 account for an estimated 40% of new U.S. power generating capacity from all energy sources. In 2009, Texas led the nation’s wind energy installations with a total capacity of 7,116 MW, followed by Iowa with 2,790, California with 2,517, Minnesota with 1,752, and Washington with 1,375. The growth of the wind power industry in the United States is attributable to improvements in wind technology, increasingly supportive policies, and the growing interest in renewable energy resources.
The growth of the wind power industry in 2008 represents an investment of about $17 billion. In the United States, financial institutions, power utilities, turbine manufacturers, the government, and wealthy individuals are involved in wind power investment. The U.S. utility-scale wind power market is driven, at the federal level, by the renewable energy production tax credit (PTC), which offers a credit of 2.1 cents per kilowatt hour.
In 2005 and 2006, the U.S. wind industry installed nearly 2,500 MW after the reinstatement of the PTC – an explosive growth in comparison to only 389 MW of new capacity in 2004 when the PTC had expired. Although the intermittent nature of the PTC incentive led to sporadic growth of the wind industry between the early 1990s and 2003, with the policy’s revival at the end of 2004, investments increased drastically enabling the United States to catch up with Germany and Spain, the leading wind power producers at the time. Owners of small wind systems with 100 kW of capacity or less can receive a credit of 30% of the total installed cost of the system, under the federal-level investment tax credit (ITC).
Wind power demand in the United States is also fueled by state renewable energy initiatives, and rising costs of natural gas. Furthermore, many states have adopted a Renewable Energy Portfolio requirement that forces utilities to increase the percentage of their electrical power supply that comes from renewable resources. Since wind is a relatively low-cost renewable energy resource, the wind industry has seen considerable growth because of these Renewable Energy Portfolio requirements.
Domestic production of wind turbines and components is expected to expand as the wind industry continues to grow. While rising fossil fuel prices and possible climate-change policies will continue to spur the wind market, a long-term or permanent PTC is important to ensure steady market growth. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (also known as the stimulus package) passed by Congress in February 2009 includes a three year extension of the PTC. This provides about two cents per kilowatt hour in the form of a tax credit back to wind power providers for a ten-year period. Changes to tax credit financing included in the stimulus package are expected to help boost investment in the wind power industry (St. John, 2009). The new extension of the PTC will cover wind turbines installed through 2012.
According to a study by Emerging Energy Research (EER), wind capacity additions in the United States may drop to 6.5 GW in 2009, 24% below the record levels in 2008. However, EER forecasts a rebound in the U.S. wind market in 2010 and 2011, with 9.5 GW and 11 GW of wind capacity additions respectively. The EER’s base-forecast scenario estimates that U.S. annual wind power growth will increase from 8.5 GW in 2008 to approximately 15.5 GW in 2020. Growth in the U.S. wind power market will result from State Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), short-term boosts from new federal incentives, such as the 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC), major investments in U.S. wind turbine manufacturing facilities, extended commitments to wind power ownership by U.S.-regulated utilities, and development of transmission grid infrastructure.
Transmission is currently the biggest long-term barrier to significant wind power expansion in the United States. In order to fully benefit from the growing wind power market, the United States needs transmission capacity to get wind from windy rural areas, where it is generated, to urban population centers where electricity consumption is greatest. In July 2009, Mesa Power, owned by energy baron T. Boone Pickens, called off plans for construction of the world’s largest wind farm. Although Mesa Power will still use the turbines in a series of smaller, dispersed wind farms, the company, which had already invested $2 billion into the original project, explained that transmission problems, from the Texas Panhandle site to the distribution system, caused the cancelation. The United States could benefit from making better use of existing transmission capacity and investing in high-voltage interstate transmission highways.
Job Opportunities
The wind power industry draws on a variety of domestic industries and has the potential to create and sustain many jobs, bringing economic benefits to every region of the United States. Although it is difficult to quantify the number of jobs that will result from growth in the wind power industry, reasonable estimates can be made by considering employment figures for companies involved in the wind industry. These companies include wind turbine manufacturers, major sub-component manufacturers, companies involved in geotechnical assessment and construction activities, as well as companies involved in wind-related R&D, and operation and maintenance service providers.
The significant growth in the U.S. wind market in 2008 led to the creation of 35,000 new jobs, bringing the total employment in the sector to over 85,000. Texas, the nation’s leading wind market, saw a marked increase in job creation with 2,500 wind project construction jobs in 2008, and the Illinois Governor’s Office also reported the creation of 3,500 wind industry-related jobs. In May 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy announced plans to invest $25 million in the first commercial large wind turbine blade facility in the United States, to be located in Boston, Massachusetts. To date, DOE has decided to invest roughly $118 million for wind energy development, with $93 million coming from the stimulus package. This funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will leverage the Department of Energy’s national laboratories, universities, and organizations in the private sector through projects that will create green jobs, promote economic recovery, and provide the investments needed for improving renewable energy generation.
Every time a wind power project is installed it creates jobs, not only in the manufacturing sector, but also for structural engineers, surveyors, mechanics, sheet metal workers, machinists, truck drivers, construction equipment operators and wind turbine operators. According to the North Carolina Wind Working Group, every 100 MW of installed wind power capacity provides 310 full-time equivalent (FTE) manufacturing sector jobs, 67 contracting and installation jobs, and 9.5 jobs in operation and maintenance every year.
The U.S. DOE 20% Wind Energy by 2030 report estimates that by 2030, the wind industry could support 500,000 jobs, including over 150,000 direct jobs. An additional three million jobs in construction and wind project development are also projected. As the U.S. wind industry works to accomplish the 20% by 2030 wind power milestone that has been envisioned by the U.S. Department of Energy, many additional jobs will be created across the value chain.
The growth of the U.S. wind power industry will also benefit the small business sector. Small businesses currently make up over 90% of renewable and efficiency industries. Adoption of environmentally sustainable technologies, including wind power generation, will further boost this sector and galvanize the domestic workforce. Although, small businesses tend to be the innovators and major producers of renewable energy products, they often struggle to remain competitive. Therefore, incentives must be put in place to ensure that these businesses are able to maintain a strong position in the industry. A $30 billion revolving loan program, proposed as part of the American
Clean Energy and Security Act (a climate bill) and funded by the U.S. Treasury, will help small businesses retool, expand or create manufacturing operations related to clean and renewable energy. According to U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, who is co-sponsoring the climate bill, the bill could potentially generate 680,000 new manufacturing jobs directly, and support about 2 million jobs, over the next five years.
Wind Turbine OEMs and Component Manufacturers
OEMs usually manufacture the nacelle in-house, and blades and towers are produced either by the OEM or fabricated to the OEM’s specifications by a supplier. The wind project developers contract with the OEMs for the delivery of the complete wind turbine, including the nacelle, blades, and turbine tower, which are transported from the manufacturing facility directly to the wind farm construction site. Competition among wind turbine OEMs has increased substantially as the wind power industry has expanded around the world. Many European companies – including Vestas, Gamesa, Enercon, and Acciona Energy – have taken the lead in wind turbine manufacturing, because the technology is mature in this region, but Asian firms such as Suzlon (India), Sinovel (China), and Goldwind (China) are also market leaders.
OEMs with nacelle assembly facilities in the United States include Acciona, Clipper Windpower, DeWind, Gamesa, and GE Energy. Siemens, Suzlon, and Vestas only manufacture blades at U.S. facilities; however, both Siemens and Vestas have recently announced plans to open nacelle assembly facilities in the United States. Including Siemens, Suzlon, and Vestas, 7 OEMs have announced plans to open manufacturing facilities in the United States. GE, the
leading U.S. turbine manufacturer, has 16.2% of the world market share, making it the second largest wind turbine OEM after the Danish company Vestas. GE turbine installations in the United States increased from 903 MW in 2003 to 3,657 MW in 2008. Other leading OEMs with installations in the U.S. market in 2008 are Vestas (1,120 MW), Siemens (791 MW), Suzlon (763 MW), Gamesa (616 MW), and Clipper Windpower (595 MW). The United States is currently the fastest growing wind power market, and about 50% of components for large wind turbines are manufactured domestically. In 2009, there were roughly 120 manufacturing plants producing wind turbines or turbine components in the United States (Daly, 2009). The companies presented in this table are merely representative and do not reflect the full extent of the component supply base.
Conclusion
Wind power is one of the most cost effective, renewable energy solutions for electricity generation. In order to successfully address environmental and energy security issues, the United States needs to diversify its energy portfolio and develop a variety of energy generation technologies. Wind power has become an increasingly competitive industry because of rising fuel prices and concerns about greenhouse gas emissions. While no single resource can sufficiently address the energy needs of the country, transitioning to a system of wind-generated electricity production will be advantageous for U.S. energy policy.
In 2008, the United States became the world leader of total wind capacity installed with over 25,000 MW. The nation currently generates 29,440 MW of electricity from wind, enough to power approximately 8 million American homes. The growth of the U.S. wind power industry can be attributed to greater interest in renewable energy sources, rising fossil fuel prices, and supportive government policies, including the federal production tax credit (PTC) and the
investment tax credit (ITC).
As the U.S. wind industry continues to grow, domestic production of wind turbines and components is expected to expand. The growth of the wind power industry has created thousands of jobs throughout the United States. In 2008, 35,000 new jobs were created in the U.S. wind market, bringing the total employment in the sector to over 85,000. As the country continues to support greater reliance on wind energy for electricity generation, the wind industry could restore some jobs lost in the automotive industry and create many new jobs across the value chain.
Further development of the domestic wind power market will create extensive U.S.-based job opportunities in materials production, component manufacturing, wind farm construction, transportation and research and development. Continued government support in the form of Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and tax credits will ensure sustained growth of the U.S. wind power market, allowing the country to maintain its position as the world leader in installed wind power capacity.
http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2009/09/windpower.html
http://www.cggc.duke.edu/environment/climatesolutions/greeneconomy_Ch11_WindPower.pdf
