PTC drives busy Q1 in the US

In its latest quarterly market report, the trade group said more than 1.5GW of additional capacity was announced in Q1.

The Production Tax Credit (PTC), which Congress extended for five years in December, is underpinning new development.

During the first quarter of 2016, 502MW were installed in the US. It was the strongest first quarter since 2012.

One of the largest projects completed was MidAmerican Energy's 154MW Adams in Iowa. It includes the USA’s tallest turbine, a Siemens 2.3MW installed on an innovative concrete tower with a hub height of about 115 metres.

There is now 74.5GW of wind capacity in the US, across 40 states, plus Guam and Puerto Rico, according to AWEA.

Around 37% of the 660MW contracted through power purchase agreements during the first quarter was through corporate and other emerging wind power customers. Buyers included the US Department of Defence, 3M and Salesforce.