A total of 235 wind turbines were erected in nine offshore wind farms in 2011. The turbines cost around € 2.4 billion. Nine further offshore wind farms are currently under construction. These projects alone will bring a further 2,375 MW online and increase the total capacity installed offshore by 62%.
The project received matched funding from the Cohesion Fund of the European Union. It represents a total investment of around € 57 million.
Therefore, the turnover and earnings targets for 2011 have been lowered. For 2012, however, the company expects profitable growth. According to Nordex, the sovereign debt crisis in Europe and rising capital requirements imposed on commercial banks have made financing of wind farm projects more difficult.
In early 2012, after a few months of tests and calibrations, the Enercon E-70 should start producing 3 GWh of power per year. The logistical challenge was taken up by Martin Senn, founder of SwissWinds, and his team. They had to develop a special low-loader, the "millipede", to transport the 35-metre rotor blades up the winding mountain roads from Airolo in Tessin to the Nufenpass in Wallis.
The two companies recently signed a corresponding letter of intent according to which Areva will be the sole supplier of the offshore turbines, which Iberdrola will use to equip the wind farms. The French government plans to achieve an offshore capacity of 6,000 MW by 2020. The first tender period with 3,000 MW begins in July and consists of five zones along the French coast.
The Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA) assumed in January, that turbines with a capacity of approx. 16 GW had been put up in 2010. According to the latest figures, however, the new installations amounted to 18.9 GW, so that the accumulated wind power capacity is now approx. 44.7 GW.
This makes the 2.4 kW turbine the most efficient grid-coupled turbine in its class. At an average wind speed of 18 km/h (12 mph) the turbine can produce an average of 7400 kWh of electricity annually. This is equivalent to around 60% of the electricity requirement of an average US household. With the help of the internet, the owner of the turbine can monitor its electricity production.
The company has thus realized what is officially the world's most powerful wind turbine at present. The hub height is 135 m. According to Enercon Magdeburg Sales Manager Frank Ihme, the turbine yields enough electricity to supply about 6,000 households.
Three turbines of the type REpower MM92 with a capacity of 2.05 MW each will be erected in the province of Skåne. The developer and part owner is the development company HS Kraft AB. The wind farm Klågerup will be connected to the grid already this autumn.
The cooperation agreement has already been signed. The purpose of the future joint company, in which Siemens will be the majority shareholder, is to set up a factory for wind turbine components for the Russian market. Additionally, it will be in charge of the sales and servicing of Siemens wind turbines for Russia and other countries.
The interactive infographic map is showing the cumulative installed wind power capacity per country and continent from 1981 to 2013.
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