Distributed energy generation, using a variety of renewable power technologies, is one of the most important tools for addressing the challenge of meeting the world’s growing electricity demand. Within the Renewable Distributed Energy Generation (RDEG) market, small wind systems, while a niche category, are nevertheless an important part of the solution for a variety of residential and commercial applications.
Small Wind systems are most often used in concert with another energy source, such as solar photovoltaics, diesel generation, or battery backup power. With the exception of the U.S. and U.K., small wind has not benefited from strong government subsidies or other support, and even the programs in those countries have been lacking in comparison to what has been extended to PV or large wind installations. However, a surge in demand for small wind in the U.S. is likely as a result of the recently enacted 30% uncapped dollar for dollar tax credit. The estimated size of the small wind market in 2008 was 38 MW of generation capacity, and Pike Research forecasts that the sector will grow to 115 MW by 2013, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25%. This translates into a market with revenues of $165 million in 2008 that will grow to nearly $412 million by 2013, representing a CAGR of 20%.
This Pike Research report analyzes the market for small wind power in the context of the broader RDEG market, which also includes solar photovoltaics and fuel cell technologies. The study covers key business issues and drivers of demand for sub-utility scale wind power, including government-driven legislation and incentives as well as market-based factors. Technology and cost issues are examined in depth, as are a number of key industry players. Market forecasts include small wind generation capacity, system revenues, and installed prices through 2013 for installations in all regions of the world, with line-item segmentation for 12 key countries.
Key questions addressed:
- Why is sub-utility scale Renewable Distributed Energy Generation (RDEG) an important part of the solution to the challenges of climate change?
- What is small wind power and how does it fit in the RDEG landscape
- What are the key sub-utility scale RDEG technologies and how do they compare across a number of dimensions?
- How big is the Small Wind category today and how large is the market forecast to grow?
- What are the key applications of Small Wind?
- What are the key drivers of growth for Small Wind?
- Who are the key industry players in the Small Wind market?
Who needs this report?
- Small wind technology providers
- Distribution, installation, and service providers
- Venture capital and other equity investors
- Government agencies
- Industry associations, non-profit organizations, and key industry constituents
- Consulting firms and investment banks focused on renewable distributed energy generation technologies, such as small wind
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
2. Market Issues
2.1 Defining the Market
2.2 Photovoltaic Systems
2.3 Small Wind Systems
2.4 Fuel Cells
2.5 Energy Storage
2.5.1 Batteries
2.5.2 Compressed Air Energy Storage
2.5.3 Flywheels
2.5.4 Pumped Hydro
2.5.5 Supercapacitors
2.5.6 Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage
2.6 Greening of Conventional DEG Technologies
2.6.1 Microturbines
2.6.2 Combustion Turbines
2.6.3 Reciprocating Engines
2.7 Market Segmentation
2.7.1 Global Cumulative Electricity Capacity
2.7.2 Global Cumulative Renewable Electricity Capacity
2.7.3 Global Electricity Generation Capacity Additions
2.7.4 Global Renewable Electricity Generation Capacity Additions
2.7.5 Global Distributed Renewable Electricity Generation Capacity Additions
2.8 Industry Growth Drivers
2.8.1 Legislative, Regulatory, Incentives, and Subsidies
2.8.2 Improvements to Existing Technologies
2.8.3 Emergence of New Technologies
2.8.4 Other Drivers
2.8.4.1 Push for Energy Independence
2.8.4.2 Benefits of Green Marketing
2.8.4.3 Supporting Organizational Missions
2.9 Implementation Issues
2.9.1 Grid Interconnection
2.9.1.1 Grid Integrity and Safety
2.9.1.2 Grid Intelligence
2.9.1.2.1 Integration with System Components
2.9.1.2.2 Net Metering
2.9.1.2.3 Demand-Side Permitting
2.9.2 Standards and Permitting
3. Technology Issues
3.1 Small Wind Systems
3.1.1 History
3.1.2 Basic Principles
3.1.3 Strengths and Weaknesses
3.1.4 Types
3.1.5 Market Trends
3.1.5.1 Grid tied vs. Off grid
3.1.5.2 Other Trends
3.1.6 Marketability and Commercialization
3.1.6.1 Cost
3.1.6.2 Efficiency
3.1.6.3 Reliability
3.1.6.4 Scalability
3.1.6.5 Availability
3.2 RDEG Applications
3.2.1 Residential Off Grid
3.2.2 Residential Grid Tied
3.2.3 Farms
3.2.4 Community Micro Grid
3.2.5 Telecom Primary and Backup Power
3.2.6 Hybrid Systems
3.2.7 Application Comparison
4. Demand Drivers
4.1 Legislation, Regulations, Incentives, and Subsidies
4.1.1 United States
4.1.2 Canada
4.1.3 Remainder of Western Hemisphere
4.1.4 Europe
4.1.4.1 United Kingdom
4.1.5 Asia Pacific
4.1.5.1 China
4.1.6 Rest of the World
4.2 Nonlegislative, Regulatory, Incentives, and Funding Drivers
4.2.1 Conventional Energy Demand Trends
4.2.2 Economics Overview
4.2.2.1 Conventional Energy Demand Trends
4.2.2.2 RDEG Technology Price
4.2.3 Break-Even Analysis
4.2.3.1 Small Wind
5. Market Forecasts
5.1 World Energy Generation
5.2 World Renewable Distributed Energy Generation
5.3 Wind Systems
5.3.1 North America
5.3.2 Europe
5.3.3 Asia Pacific
5.3.4 Rest of the World
6. Industry Players / Competitive Landscape
6.1 Wind Systems
6.1.1 Southwest Windpower
6.1.2 Proven Energy
6.1.3 Bergey Windpower
6.1.4 Gaia-Wind
6.1.5 Northern Power
6.1.6 Entegrity Wind Systems
7. Company Directory
8. Acronym List
9. Table of Contents
10. Table of Figures
11. Scope of Study, Sources and Methodology, Notes
List of Charts and Figures
- Segmentation of Major Electricity Generation Sources into Renewable Distributed
- Global Cumulative Electricity Capacity by Source – 2007
- Global Cumulative Renewable Electricity Capacity, Distributed vs. Centralized – 2007
- Global Cumulative Renewable Electricity Capacity by Source – 2007
- Global Electricity Generation Capacity Additions by Source – 2007
- Global Renewable Electricity Generation Capacity Additions, Dist. vs. Centralized – 2007
- Global Renewable Electricity Generation Capacity Additions by Source – 2007
- Global Distributed Renewable Electricity Gen. Capacity Additions by Source – 2007
- Representative Global Deployments of Telecom Backup Power by Technology
- U.S. Renewable Portfolio Standards, Goals, and Required Renewables
- Comparative Household Electricity Prices for Industrialized Countries – 1999 – 2006
- Comparative Industry Electricity Prices for Industrialized Countries – 1999 – 2006
- Electricity Generation Sources for U.S., OECD Europe and Japan—2007
- Comparative Prices of Conventional and RDEG Electricity Generation Sources
- Range of Installed Prices for 10-kW Small Wind System—2007
- Estimate of Payback on 10-kW Small Wind System—2007
- Installed Small Wind System Price Projection—2007–2013
- Global Installed Electricity Generating Capacity by Geographic Region— 2005–2025
- Annual RDEG Technologies Capacity Additions—2007–2013
- Annual RDEG Technology Revenue–2007–2013
- Summary Comparison of RDEG Technologies
- Summary of Relevant RDEG Standards and Permitting Agencies
- Summary Comparison of Applications by RDEG Technology
- Summary of Emission Reduction Targets for Major Industrialized Nations and Regions
- Summary Comparison of U.S. Federal Tax Credit for RDEG Technologies
- Summary of U.S. Federal Subsidies and Incentives for RDEG Technologies
- Annual Growth of Small Wind Capacity, World Markets: 2008 to 2013
- Small Wind Global Annual Installed Capacity, World Markets: 2007 to 2013
- Small Wind System Installed Price, World Markets: 2007 to 2013
- Small Wind Installed System Revenue, World Markets: 2007 to 2013
- Annual Growth of RDEG Technologies, World Markets: 2008 to 2013
- RDEG Technologies Global Capacity, World Markets: 2007 to 2013
- RDEG Technologies Installed Price, World Markets: 2007 to 2013
- RDEG Technologies System Revenue, World Markets: 2007 to 2013
List of Tables
- Annual Growth of Small Wind Capacity, World Markets: 2008-2013
- Small Wind Global Annual Installed Capacity, World Markets: 2007-2013
- Small Wind System Installed Price, World Markets: 2007-2013
- Small Wind System Revenue, World Markets: 2007-2013
- Annual Growth of RDEG Technologies, World Markets: 2008-2013
- RDEG Technologies Global Capacity, World Markets: 2007-2013
- RDEG Technologies Installed Price, World Markets: 2007-2013
- RDEG Technologies System Revenue, World Markets: 2007-2013
