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Post by Flash on Apr 27, 2008 13:51:29 GMT -5
Wind power booming globally - what about us? Posted April 25th, 2008 by Diet Simon
By Diet Simon
Electricity generation by wind is now growing fastest in the USA, Spain, China, India and Germany - in that order.
This has been highlighted at the world's biggest industrial fair in Hanover, Germany, whose energy section reflects a global wind energy boom.
Technology and service innovations by wind industry manufacturers and component suppliers are on display.
Worldwide new wind turbines with a joint capacity of 20,076 megawatts were erected last year.
The German wind industry association reports 18% more turnover last year than in 2006. More than three quarters of the output was exported.
About 10,000 new wind power jobs were created in Germany last year, bringing that workforce to 90,000.
The German association says declining support funding by the government is slowing wind energy growth in the country.
Support rates have not changed since 2004, the association says, and despite ongoing improvements in efficiency, manufacturers cannot keep up with drastic price increases for raw materials like steel and copper.
Politicians and power grid operators also need to take fast action to grow the distribution network, the association says.
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