Market
The booming wind energy markets around the world exceeded expectations in 2006, with the sector experiencing yet another record year with installations of 15,197 megawatts (MW). This takes the total installed wind energy capacity to 74,223 MW, up from 59,091 MW in 2005. Despite constraints facing supply chains for wind turbines, the annual market for wind continued to increase at the staggering rate of 32 % following the 2005 record year, in which the market grew by 41 %. This development shows that the global wind energy industry is responding fast to the challenge of manufacturing at the required level, and manages to deliver sustained growth. In terms of economic value, the wind energy sector has now become firmly installed as one of the important players in the energy markets, with the total value of new generating equipment installed in 2006 reaching €18 billion, or US$23 billion.
The countries with the highest total installed capacity are Germany (20,622 MW), Spain (11,615 MW), the USA (11,603 MW), India (6,270 MW) and Denmark (3,136 MW). Thirteen countries around the world can now be counted among those with over 1,000 MW of wind capacity, with France and Canada reaching this threshold in 2006. In terms of new installed capacity in 2006, the US continued to lead with 2,454 MW, followed by Germany (2,233 MW), India (1,840 MW), Spain (1,587 MW), China (1,347 MW) and France (810 MW). This development shows that new players such as France and China are gaining ground.
The Latin American market is starting to show signs of healthy growth, mainly in Brazil and Mexico. Overall, Latin America saw 296 MW of new installations in 2006, compared to only 6 MW in the previous year.
In Brazil, the government’s PROINFA programme is showing first signs of success, with new installations of 208 MW, which brings the total capacity up to 237 MW, while the infrastructure for another 220 MW is still being constructed. The Federal Government is also expected to announce a 5,000 MW wind energy program to be realized between 2009 and 2015.
In Mexico, which also has an excellent potential for wind energy, 85 MW of new capacity were installed in 2006, bringing the total up to 88 MW. The Mexican Wind Energy Association (AMDEE) estimates the development of at least 3,000 MW by 2011
More than 70% of electricity in Mexico is generated from crude oil, whose reserves are guaranteed for a timeframe of 9 to 12 years at the current extraction rate in the country.
Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) started a project to build 5 wind farms, and there are 12 additional private projects to reach a total production capacity of 7000 MW throughout the country.
Mexican government has modified the range of options for energy production, promoting the legal restructure that allows private investments.
Building-up the manufacturing facilities for wind-turbines production will open a new opportunity for investors to cover rapidly the increasing and immediate demand of wind turbines at the Mexican and Latin American territory. In Oaxaca region, is estimated the surface with the good or excellent wind resource potential of approx. 6600 km2 from which approx. 4400 km2 is recognized as a surface with an excellent wind resource potential.
| Oaxaca | 2,500 Mw |
| Baja California | 870 Mw |
| Tamaulipas | 650 Mw |
| Veracruz | 430 Mw |
| Hidalgo | 320 Mw |
| Quintana Roo | 560 Mw |
| Others | 2,000 Mw |
| Sum | 7,330 Mw |
Taken from:
http://howto.altenergystore.com/Reference-Materials/Wind-Resource-Map-for-Mexico/a46/
| Wind resource | Wind class |
Wind potential at 50 m (W/m2) |
Wind speed at 50 m (m/s) |
Total surface area (km2) |
% of area with wind |
| Good | 4 | 400 - 500 | 6.7 - 7.3 | 2.263 | 2.5 |
| Excellent | 5 | 500 - 600 | 7.3 - 7.7 | 1.370 | 1.5 |
| Excellent | 6 | 600 - 700 | 7.7 - 8.5 | 1.756 | 1.9 |
| Excellent | 7 | > 800 | > 8.5 | 1.248 | 1.4 |
| Total | 6.637 | 7.3 |
*(according to NREL research report NREL/TP-500-35575)