Offshore wind defines an innovation horizon while onshore is dominated by quick evolutionary innovation, says MAKE Consulting’s recent report.
MAKE Consulting’s 2014 Wind Turbine Trends is a 56-page report which provides an overview of the global wind industry’s most critical technology trends, the impact those trends have on wind energy’s Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) and the regional market drivers behind those trends. It focusses on new product development initiatives within the turbine’s strategic components – blades, gearboxes, generators, power converters, towers, and controls.
Wind turbine technology has matured significantly, resulting in substantial reductions in LCOE and increased competitiveness of wind energy on the grid. Turbines have grown larger, more productive, cost effective and reliable due to technology investments. The next decade will bring further change, but the role of technology has shifted as the industry continues to evolve and work towards LCOE grid parity. A few key points in the report are:
- Offshore wind defines an innovation horizon while onshore is dominated by quick evolutionary innovation
- Many markets are poised to evolve past the 2 MW benchmark
- IEC III turbines are expected to represent a large portion of future installs
- Blades and pitch systems remain the most important elements to reduce LCOE, driven by ongoing improvements in aerodynamic efficiency, load controls and cost reduction.
Make Consulting
www.consultmake.com
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