Wind energy is growing rapidly throughout the world. Last year alone, Italy reached over 10GW of installed wind energy capacity. Up until recently, this power came primarily from onshore wind. But Senvion and Renexia recently announced plans to build the country’s first offshore farm. Read on to find out what this means for wind energy in Italy. And, for the rest of the world, keep an eye out for new wind projects!
Brazil
In the past, wind power installations in Brazil have been low. But the recent economic crisis has changed all that. Renewable energy is becoming a mainstay in Brazil, and a new plan has been introduced to increase the installed capacity of wind power. With the help of wind turbines, Brazil is now the world’s top wind energy producer. However, the Brazilian government is not willing to give subsidies to the renewable energy industry. In fact, their bills are already high enough, so any kind of subsidy would be useless. In order to avoid such a situation, the Brazilian energy ministry has formulated complementary rules to promote renewable energy.
A large part of the reason for Brazil’s top ranking is its lack of transmission infrastructure. The lack of dual carriageways makes it difficult to transport wind turbines and generate electricity. Furthermore, blocking traffic is a tedious bureaucratic process. Because wind energy is abundant in Brazil, the tax incentives have helped Brazil meet its Paris Agreement commitments. But it is not all rosy for wind energy in Brazil. The country still faces a few challenges.
India
After the US, India is leading the world in wind power installation. In the last two years, more than 5000 MW of new capacity has been installed. The government is providing incentives to encourage the industry. The Government has approved EUR800 million in viability gap funding for wind projects. During the last fiscal year, over 2000 MW of new capacity was installed. The Government has also provided incentives under the Generation Based Incentive Scheme (GBIS).
Government subsidies for renewable energy sources, combined with aggressive climate emergency planning, have boosted the wind power industry in India. In the last fiscal year alone, the government provided incentives to attract investors. Accelerated depreciation, reduced tax rates, and lower bidding prices for solar and wind energy have helped the sector expand. As of March 2018, solar energy has gained more investor support, with the lowest bidding price being Rs 2.23 per kilowatt-hour, compared to the highest bid of Rs 5.50 for wind power.
Scotland
In the last three years, Scotland has increased its renewable electricity capacity by over two-thirds to 13GW, a figure that is almost triple the amount installed in 2008. The increase has been primarily driven by onshore wind (which makes up 73% of installed capacity) and offshore wind (which makes up the remaining 12%). Offshore wind projects in particular have been growing in size, increasing in size by 50% during the last quater.
The main reason Scotland has been so successful in wind power installation is the availability of land. The country has a good supply of windy areas. Because of the large amount of available land, wind production can be conducted in areas that are not so environmentally damaging and even in urban areas. Micro generation should always be considered over macro generation when deciding whether to build wind farms in Scotland. It is important to note, however, that wind energy production requires significant investment in energy storage facilities.
Costa Rica
The Chiripa wind farm will help promote the development of wind power in Costa Rica. With a total installed capacity of 249 MW, the project will also contribute to the government’s strategic goal of reducing carbon emissions. The wind power project also received a social management plan for the local population. ACCIONA provided incentives to the contractors to hire local workers and cover community needs. As of 2013, Costa Rica was ranked first in wind power installation globally.
The country has a history of using renewable energy. In 1978, wind power was first installed in Costa Rica. The country’s first solar power project was developed by a group of researchers at the National University and public universities. The first solar power plant, a 1MW project, began operations in November 2012, while a 1.2MW plant was installed in Nicaragua in February 2013. Together, these facilities will generate enough energy to power over 1,000 households.
China
According to the World Energy Council, China is the world’s leading wind power installation country, with a capacity of 1188 megawatts (MW). In 2016, China was the largest exporter of wind turbines outside of its borders, with a share of two to three percent. China’s wind power machine industry is highly concentrated, with leading enterprises possessing more advanced capital, technology accumulation, and integrity in the industry chain. Leading enterprises have also achieved stable leading positions in the industry.
Wind power is now available in many regions of China, and the country ranks first in wind power installation, with one-third of the world’s total installed capacity. In 2020, China will have installed almost 100 GW of wind power, equivalent to almost three times the country’s total electricity consumption. Its onshore wind power will account for nearly fifty-six percent of new installations, and offshore wind will make up 6.1 GW.