In its 2017 North America Wind Outlook report, Make expects more than two thirds of the 2017-2026 incremental capacity will be installed before the end of 2020, in line with the expiration of the US tax credit.
The US is expected to add 59GW of new wind capacity by 2026, 40GW of which is expected over the next four years. Offshore capacity is expected to reach 2.2GW by 2026.
Make warned of a possible strain on the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) market as the increased build out will take up limited resources.
"During the same time, asset owners will also embark on the most extensive repowering campaign thus far in the US.
"Under a novel '80-20' repowering method, nearly 1GW of existing turbine nacelle and blade units will be replaced with new components while smaller components will be replaced in another 6GW of existing turbines with the aim of extending operational life spans and re-qualifying for the PTC," Make said.
Canada is expected to install 6.2GW over the next ten years, according to Make.
"As in the US, the ten-year outlook in Canada is split into two distinct periods. From 2017 to 2019, Eastern Canada will continue to host most new wind capacity, after which the region's outlook will decline amidst dwindling political support for new wind power, a largely decarbonised electricity sector and lacklustre growth in electricity demand.
"Beginning in late 2019, traditionally carbon-intensive Western Canadian provinces Alberta and Saskatchewan will install the first capacity contracted under ambitious renewable procurement programs that will shift the balance of new demand decisively westward through the remainder of the forecast period," Make said in its report.
