national wind power industry continues to enjoy growth

The Department of Energy has released a new report indicating that the previously growing U.S. wind power industry is continuing to grow, with 41 states currently operating utility-scale projects.

The report, 2017 Wind Technologies Market Report, looks at wind market construction and operation trends recorded last year and uses those trends to predict the industry’s immediate future.

Prepared by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a DOE Office of Science Lab, the report notes that new installations accounted for more than 7,000 megawatts of capacity last year.

As of the end of last year, wind energy made up 6.3 percent of the nation’s total electric supply, comprising upwards of 30 percent of the supply in Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Texas, meanwhile led the nation in 2017 with more than 22 gigawatts of wind capacity.

The DOE report adds than more than $11 billion was invested in new wind plants last year, with the average wind project offering twice as much capacity as projects built roughly two decades ago.

A separate report released by WiseGuyReports.com tracks a healthy market for wind power generation nationally.

The report, entitled 2018-2025 Wind Turbine Pitch Systems Market Global Key Player, Demand, Growth, Opportunities and Analysis Forecast, emphasizes the importance of a reliable wind turbine pitch control system in the market advancement of the industry.

Such pitch control systems mean that roto blades in a wind power generation systems adjust output power by responding to wind speeds.

The control system also protects the rotor blades, providing a given facility with a greater utilization of wind power efficiency.

The study notes that while the market for wind turbines with pitch control systems has remained steady in the last four years, it is nevertheless expected to grow from $1.5 billion in 2017 to nearly $1.8 billion by 2025.

By Garry Boulard

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