North America to see 125 gigawatts of wind power by 2017 – Pike

The increasing trend toward consolidation in the wind power industry, with major wind power technology manufacturers acquiring wind farm development companies as a strategy for ensuring the use of their turbines, will lead to the growth of the North American market, a research firm said. Current analysis by Pike Research projects that North America will see a surge in both onshore and offshore wind installations and reach 125 gigawatts by 2017, with $145 billion in investments.

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Foundation, other issues jacking up wind turbine technology research

Finding suitable sites for developing onshore wind farms will soon be difficult due to dense urbanization and the negative visual impact that wind farms could have on the surrounding environment. This, however, is opening up more opportunities for the offshore wind industry, according to a new report by Frost & Sullivan. In its research, market intelligence company Frost & Sullivan said increasing interest in offshore wind power is driving the development of new technologies, from the generators to wind turbine foundations.

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First Wind, RES Americas complete U.S. wind farms

Massachusetts-based wind energy company First Wind has completed its 35-megawatt wind project in Buffalo, New York, which will tap the winds of the Great Lakes region. The project is expected to generate enough clean energy to power around 9,000 New York homes and make its contribution in decreasing carbon dioxide emissions by over 23,000 tons annually, helping the state reach its goal of getting 30 percent of its energy from renewables by 2015.

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India’s Suzlon tones down year-long guidance

A strong order book was not enough to keep Suzlon Energy’s consolidated sales from declining in the third quarter, necessitating a change in the wind turbine giant’s guidance for the company’s current fiscal year 2011-2012. Suzlon’s third quarter revenues were at 49.85 billion rupees ($1 billion). Although this represented a 12 percent year-on-year growth, lower third quarter volumes had an effect.

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Vestas ‘disappointed’ with 2011 results due to unrealized plants

Wind power giant Vestas Wind Systems A.S. said last year’s financial results deviated significantly from what the company expected, as it continues to be more aggressive in the wind energy service category to achieve more profits. Calling 2011 “a tough year,” Vestas recalled that it had to abandon targets, issue profit warnings and lay off employees.

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E.U. wind rides on record R.E. growth in 2011; Uncertainties remain

New wind energy installations in Europe worth $16.74 billion remained strong last year, riding on an aggressive renewables drive according to the industry’s umbrella group, although concerns linger for this year onwards. The European Wind Energy Association said the continent installed 9,616 megawatts of new wind energy capacity in 2011, almost similar to the 9,648 MW raised in 2010.

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Broadwind Energy secures $23-million in wind tower orders in Q4

Illinois-based clean technology firm Broadwind Energy, Inc. won strong fourth-quarter orders which include a $23-million contract to deliver wind power towers to be produced at the company’s Manitowoc, Wisconsin facility, and to be supplied to a United States wind turbine manufacturer by the second half of 2012.

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Gamesa to supply offshore turbines for Iberdrola; 200 MW for Egypt

Madrid-based wind energy company Gamesa is entering the new year with several deals to increase its presence in the global market. The company signed a new framework agreement with another Spanish company, Iberdrola, to supply onshore wind turbines for planned developments until at least 2022.

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Pattern to use advanced weather forecast software from Red Hat

Wind energy and transmission company Pattern Energy Group LP is using open source solutions provider Red Hat Inc.’s recently released Red Hat Storage Software Appliance to estimate wind energy history and precisely forecast weather three to five days in advance.

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EDF Energies to construct 324 MW Mexican wind farms

French renewable energy group EDF Energies Nouvelles said it has bought two wind projects in Mexico with a total capacity of 324 megawatts, reinforcing its presence in the country. EDF EN, 50-percent owned by French utility EDF, purchased the wind farms from independent producer Eolia Renovables of Inversiones through its Mexican subsidiary Electrica del Valle de Mexico.

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