by Jbs061109 h3 — June 15, 2009—The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reports that the U.S. market for small wind turbines–those with capacities of 100 kilowatts (kW) and less–grew 78 percent in 2008, with a total of 17.3 megawatts (MW) of new installed capacity. Small wind turbines are electric generators that utilize wind energy to produce clean, emissions-free power for individual homes, farms and small businesses.
AWEA attributes the growth in the small wind sector mainly to increased private investment that has allowed manufacturing volumes to increase, particularly for the commercial segment of the market (systems 21-100 kW). The residential segment (1-10 kW) remains the largest segment of the market.
U.S. manufacturers reportedly sold about half of all small wind turbines installed worldwide last year. U.S. market share amounted to $77 million of the $156 million global total. (Worldwide, about 38.7 MW of new small wind capacity was installed in 2008, notes AWEA.)
The study included a poll of small wind manufacturers, who project a 30-fold growth in the U.S. small wind market within as little as five years, despite a global recession. Much of this estimated growth will be spurred by the new eight-year 30% federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) passed by Congress in October 2008 and augmented in February 2009.
The 2009 AWEA Small Wind Global Market Study is available on the AWEA Small Wind Web page.
