EnergyPortal.eu

Home Latest Wind Energy News Sales of small wind turbines up in 2009

The U.S. market for small wind energy systems is prospering, expanding 15% in 2009 and accounting for about half of the units sold in the entire world, the American Wind Energy Association said today, highlighting findings from its annual Small Wind Turbine market study. Small wind systems are defined as those with rated capacities of 100 kilowatts (kW) or less, and are used primarily to power individual homes, farms, and small businesses. "Americans and people around the globe want to take control of their energy future, and investing in a small wind turbine to generate your own electricity is one of the most rewarding ways to do so," said AWEA CEO Denise Bode. "Wind works for people and for our planet in many different ways. Federal and state incentives now make it much more affordable to invest in a small wind turbine, and the market expanded in 2009 thanks largely to those incentives, optimistic investors, and popular demand," said AWEA Manager of Small Wind Systems and Legislative Affairs Ron Stimmel, author of the report. "We've also seen domestic manufacturing investment grow, with nine small wind turbine production facilities opened or expanded in the U.S in 2009. The U.S. small wind turbine market is by far the world's largest, both in terms of installations and of manufacturing."