27 June 2013

Frost & Sullivan: Increasing Range of Utility-scale Wind Turbines Available in Africa as Technology Evolves

Submitted by: Samantha

Greater turbine efficiency drives cost-competitiveness and widens adoption scope 

CAPE TOWN – 27 June, 2013 – The installed capacity of utility-scale wind power in Africa is expected to grow substantially over the next few years, albeit off a very low base. This growth will be driven, in part, by the continually improving efficiency of wind turbines and the simultaneous decrease in investment costs per installed megawatt (MW).

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan(http://www.energy.frost.com), Utility-scale Wind Turbine Technology Options and Pricing in Africa, finds that both the height and the swept area of grid-connected wind turbines have increased significantly. The supply is now dominated by turbines in the 1.5 to 3.0 MW range, boosting the efficiency of wind turbines over a variety of potential wind speeds.

“There are a number of new wind turbine manufacturers entering the African market, and with global manufacturing capacity exceeding demand, wind turbine prices are extremely competitive,” saidFrost & Sullivan Energy and Environment Industry Analyst Gareth Blanckenberg.

Wind turbine prices will continue to fall in the short term. Across Africa, several governments are investing more resources in the exploration of renewable power and offering feed-in-tariffs that enhance affordability and widen the potential of wind energy generation.

While costs reduce, turbine efficiency will increase, reducing the cost per MW of electricity generation from wind power. The average power rating of a utility-scale wind turbine in the region is expected to reach 2.4 MW by 2017.

Since electricity production from wind turbines is highly dependent on the prevailing wind conditions, choosing an optimal site and the appropriate wind turbine is critical for the economic viability of projects.Turbines are required to adequately manage variable wind fluctuations, while meeting electricity generation specifications in terms of voltage, frequency and harmonics.

“The array of wind turbine technology choices will continue to broaden in Africa, with a trend towards larger and more efficient multi-megawatt turbine units,” noted Blanckenberg. “The lower cost of energy in newer designs will lead to greater market penetration in the region.”

If you are interested in more information on this research, please send an e-mail to Samantha James, Corporate Communications, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your full name, company name, job title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country.

Utility-scale Wind Turbine Technology Options and Pricing in Africais part of the Energy & Power Growth Partnership Service program. Frost & Sullivan’s related research services include: Strategic Overview of the Tunisian Electricity Industry, Sub-Saharan African Power Plant Construction Market, Southern African High Voltage Transmission and Distribution Market, and Overview of the Mozambique Electricity Industry, among others. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants.

Our “Growth Partnership” supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.

·         The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation.

·         The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices.

For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?

Contact Us:     Start the discussion

Join Us:           Join our community

Subscribe:       Newsletter on “the next big thing"

Register:         Gain access to visionary innovation

Utility-scale Wind Turbine Technology Options and Pricing in Africa

Contact:

Samantha James
Corporate Communications – Africa
P: +27 21 680 3574
F: +27 21 680 3296
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.frost.com