Wind energy business & policy in your region

News and in-depth analysis of wind power, wind farms and wind industry companies and policy around the world.

North America

US grid designed for 'yesterday's technologies'

By Ros Davidson, 20 November 2018

UNITED STATES: Outdated wholesale market rules in the US are preventing full participation by renewable energy, including wind power, according to a new report by consultancy firm Grid Strategies.

Invenergy to acquire Grain Belt transmission line

By Craig Richard, 14 November 2018

UNITED STATES: Invenergy will acquire the high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) Grain Belt Express transmission project from developer Clean Line Energy.

New icing-detection software launched

By Craig Richard, 12 November 2018

CANADA: AI software company Clir Renewables has launched a new programme to detect icing on turbine blades and measure its impact on performance.

Boralex losses widen after drop in production

By Craig Richard, 9 November 2018

CANADA: Boralex's net losses widened to C$50 million (US$38 million) in the first nine months of the year due to lower production volumes, amortisation expenses, and acquisition and financing costs, according to the company.

South America

Vestas to build 4.2MW nacelles in Brazil

By Craig Richard, 25 October 2018

BRAZIL: Vestas has signed a framework agreement to produce nacelles for its V150-4.2MW turbines in the state of Ceará.

Equinor and Petrobras sign Brazilian offshore MoU

By Craig Richard, 28 September 2018

BRAZIL: State-owned oil majors Equinor and Petrobras have signed a three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop the country's offshore wind sector.

Vestas receives first Brazilian order for V150

By Craig Richard, 27 September 2018

BRAZIL: Vestas will provide its V150-4.2MW model in Brazil for the first time, following an order for a 101MW wind farm in the north-eastern state of Rio Grande do Norte.

Colombia details renewables auction schedule

By Craig Richard, 14 September 2018

COLOMBIA: The country's energy planning authority has published a schedule for holding its first renewable energy auction next year.

Middle East & Africa

Morocco's King signals renewables expansion

By Jan Dodd, 12 November 2018

MOROCCO: The country's renewable energy target should be revised upward, beyond the present goal of 52% of electricity to be sourced from non-fossil fuels by 2030, King Mohammed VI has announced.

Turkey launches 1GW onshore tender

By Heather O’Brian, 9 November 2018

TURKEY: The energy minister has called a tender for 1GW in new onshore wind capacity next March, but no announcement has been made following a 1.2GW offshore auction scheduled for last month.

Updated: Vestas to supply Enel in South Africa

By Craig Richard, 1 November 2018

SOUTH AFRICA: Vestas will provide Enel Green Power with 111 turbines at three projects with a combined capacity of 442MW won in the country's fourth tender round.

First power at Lake Turkana

By Craig Richard, 26 September 2018

KENYA: The long-delayed Lake Turkana wind farm has finally delivered first power to the grid, its developer has announced.

Europe

Repowering boosted UK projects' capacity by 171%

By Craig Richard, 20 November 2018

UK: The UK could benefit from an additional 5.5GW of capacity through repowering of onshore projects approaching the end of the 25-year licences, new research from Cardiff University suggested.

Solar beats wind again in second German tender

By Craig Richard, 19 November 2018

GERMANY: Industry associations have called for an end to technology-neutral tenders after, once again, solar projects secured 100% of the capacity when competing against wind.

Cable deals signed for two UK projects

By Craig Richard, 19 November 2018

UK: Agreements have been signed for export cable systems at two offshore wind farms off the UK with a combined capacity of more than 2GW.

Electricity subsidies 'in doubt' across EU after ruling

By James Agyepong-Parsons and Neil Roberts, 19 November 2018

EUROPE: The future of electricity capacity mechanisms across Europe have been put into question after a court ruling led to the suspension of the UK's €6.3bn security of supply energy auction, campaigners said.