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ePaper created 2014-06-03, 15:03:20 | version 1.30.01
57 02 RENEWABLES 2014 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT Driven largely by anticipated reforms to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), Germany remained Europe’s largest market and set a new record for installations.21 More than 3.2 GW was added to the German grid in 2013, including more than 0.2 GW for repowering; by year's end, a total of 34.3 GW was grid- connected (and 34.7 GW total installed).22 Germany generated 53.4 TWh with the wind in 2013.23 The United Kingdom added 1.9 GW to the grid, 39% of which was offshore, for a year-end total of 10.5 GW.24 Other top EU markets were Poland (0.9 GW), Sweden (0.7 GW), Romania (0.7 GW), and Denmark (0.7 GW).25 France (0.6 GW) and Italy (0.4 GW) both saw significant market reductions in 2013.26 Spain remained third in the region for cumulative capacity, but recent policy changes have brought the market to a virtual standstill, with the lowest additions (less than 0.2 GW) in 16 years.27 The highest growth rates were seen in Croatia (68%) and Finland (56.3%), from low bases, and Romania (36.5%) and Poland (35.8%).28 Slovenia added capacity for the first time.29 India was the fourth largest market in 2013, although demand contracted by 26%.30 Over 1.7 GW was installed for a total approaching 20.2 GW.31 A steep devaluation of the rupee against the U.S. dollar (which increased financing and import costs), and removal of key support policies in 2012, delayed investment in wind power.32 However, retroactive reinstatement of the Generation Based Incentive in late 2013 helped resurrect the market.33 Elsewhere in the region, Japan saw a slowdown in deployment, due largely to new regulatory requirements and delays for grid access, while Thailand and Pakistan both doubled their capacity.34 Canada installed a record 1.6 GW, a market increase of more than 70%, for a total of 7.8 GW, led by Ontario (2.5 GW) and Quebec (2.4 GW).35 The United States ended the year with 61.6 GW, up by just over 1 GW.36 This represented a significant drop from the 13.1 GW installed in 2012, when developers rushed to complete projects before the federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) expired.37 Even so, utilities and corporate purchasers signed a record number of long-term contracts in response to low power prices, and more than 12 GW of projects was under construction by year’s end.38 Texas led for total capacity (12.4 GW), followed by California (5.8 GW), Iowa (5.2 GW), Illinois (3.6 GW), and Oregon (3.2 GW).39 Elsewhere,themostsignificantgrowthwasseeninLatinAmerica. Brazil installed more than 0.9 GW of capacity (down from 1.1 GW in 2012) to rank seventh for newly installed wind capacity.40 It ended the year with almost 3.5 GW of commissioned capacity— nearly three-fourths of the region’s total—of which 2.2 GW was grid-connected and in commercial operation.41 Utility interest in wind power is increasing because it complements Brazil’s reliance on hydropower, and by year’s end more than 10 GW of additional capacity was under contract.42 Others in the region to add wind capacity included Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.43 Australia was again the only country in the Pacific to add wind capacity (0.7 GW), bringing its total to more than 3.2 GW.44 In Turkey, where interest in wind power is driven partly by heavy reliance on Russian gas, 0.6 GW was installed for a total approaching 3 GW.45 Africa and the Middle East saw little new operating capacity beyond Morocco (0.2 GW) and Ethiopia, which completed Africa’s largest individual wind farm (120 MW), with the aim of mitigating the impact of dry seasons on national hydropower output.46 However, other countries in the region moved ahead with new projects, and several announced long- term plans.47 Offshore wind is still small compared with global onshore capacity, but it is growing rapidly. A record 1.6 GW was added to the world’s grids for a total exceeding 7 GW in 14 countries by year’s end.48 More than 93% of total capacity was located off Europe, which added 1,567 MW to the grid for a total of 6,562 MW in 11 countries.49 The United Kingdom has more than 52% of the world’s offshore capacity. It was the largest market (adding 733 MW) in 2013, followed in Europe by Denmark (350 MW), Germany (595 MW total, and 240 MW grid- connected), and Belgium (192 MW).50 But the EU record hides delays due to policy uncertainty, particularly in Germany and the United Kingdom, and cancellation or downsizing of projects due to cost and wildlife concerns.51 The remaining offshore capacity is in China, Japan, and South Korea; China added 39 MW for almost 430 MW total.52 Two U.S. projects qualified for the PTC before it expired and are competing to be the first commercial project operating off U.S. shores.53 Offshore and on, independent power producers and energy utilities remained the most important clients in the market in terms of capacity installed. However, there is growing interest