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

China trade deal no help for rising US wind costs

By Ros Davidson, 20 January 2020

The recent US-China trade deal does not appear to alleviate the harsh tariffs on Chinese imports that have affected the US wind industry.

New York's Cuomo sets sights on new 1GW round

By Ros Davidson, 14 January 2020

New York will issue a second solicitation for offshore wind projects this year, governor Andrew Cuomo said in a recent "state of the state" speech.

Brookfield bids to take full control of TerraForm

By Craig Richard, 13 January 2020

Canadian owner-operator Brookfield Renewables has launched a takeover bid for TerraForm Power, proposing to buy all the outstanding shares in the clean energy developer.

US zones carved up in fishing industry proposal

By Ros Davidson, 13 January 2020

A major fishing group has asked the US government to designate six transit lanes off New England in areas slated for wind development.

South America

Developers seek more time after election spooks financiers

By Tom Azzopardi, 2 January 2020

Developers are urging Argentina's authorities to give them more time to build renewable energy projects as the return of the Peronist movement to government sends shivers through financial markets.

Enercon to enter Chile with 'earthquake-proof towers'

By Craig Richard, 16 December 2019

Enercon is adapting its turbine towers to resist earthquakes in the Chilean desert as it prepares to make its market entry in the South American country by supplying a 607MW wind farm.

Mainstream finances 571MW wind and solar PV in Chile

By Craig Richard, 5 November 2019

Mainstream Renewable Power has reached financial close on the 571MW first phase of a 1.3GW wind and solar PV cluster in Chile, three years after it secured the necessary power deals at auction.

Engie secures loan for 360MW Brazilian complex

By Craig Richard, 28 October 2019

Brazil's national development bank (BNDES) has approved BRL 1.26 billion ($370 million) in financing for Engie's 360MW Umburanas wind power complex -- the bank's first large-scale loan for the technology under climate change-denying president Jair Bolsonaro.

Middle East & Africa

First power from first West African wind farm

By Craig Richard, 12 December 2019

Lekela has delivered first power to the grid from its 158.7MW Taiba N'Diaye project in Senegal, the west African country's first utility-scale wind farm.

SGRE ramps up production, but investors seek more clarity

By Heather O’Brian, 29 November 2019

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has completed construction of Turkey's first nacelle factory and is set to ramp up production until it reaches full capacity of about 100 nacelles, or 500MW, a year.

Africa set for nine-fold wind capacity increase

By Craig Richard, 8 November 2019

The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects Africa's wind power fleet to increase nine-fold between the end of 2018 and 2040, but the continent's small power markets and underdeveloped grids pose challenges to managing variability as renewables' penetration increases.

Wind set for bulk of new South African capacity to 2030

By Craig Richard, 18 October 2019

South Africa's government expects 14.4GW of new wind power capacity to be installed between 2022 and 2030 under its final Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) -- more than any other energy source in this period.

Europe

Vestas plans 'zero-waste turbines' by 2040

By Craig Richard, 20 January 2020

Vestas plans to eliminate non-recyclable waste from the manufacturing, operation and decommissioning of its wind turbines by 2040, becoming the first turbine maker to announce such a target.

Subsidy-free wind farm wins first Lithuanian tender

By Craig Richard, 16 January 2020

A 75MW wind farm has secured priority access to the grid with a zero-subsidy bid in Lithuania's first renewable energy tender.

Poland starts talks on 10GW-plus offshore plans

By Craig Richard, 16 January 2020

The government has unveiled a first draft of a long-awaited offshore wind act, which outlines more than 10GW of capacity to be awarded by 2028.

EU unveils €1 trillion green spending package

By Craig Richard, 15 January 2020

The European Union’s (EU) €1 trillion green investment plan could help finance innovative technologies that deliver on climate neutrality, according to industry body WindEurope.