Technology Status - NET Nowak Energie & Technologie AG

Cost of order / List price
1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
Considerable economies of scale can be achieved by increasing the size of
the power generation plant, especially for offshore production. Project
preparation costs as a percentage of total costs decreased from 29% to 20%
in Denmark from 1989 to 1996 and have averaged 1.25 times the ex-factory
cost since then. Wind farms decrease the preparation costs per machine
significantly. Furthermore, wind turbine investment costs tend to be lower,
due to rebates for greater numbers of machines ordered. An example for
Vestas V47 machines is given in Figure 63.
0.4
1 10 100 1000 10000
● Market Opportunities
Market Potential
Theoretically, the potential of wind energy is enormous. Suitable areas/sites
which may prove economically feasible in the foreseeable future are
characterised by higher-than-average wind speed and are depicted on the
wind resource maps (See Plates 5 and 6 (Page 101). Favourable wind
conditions are mainly found in coastal areas and some regions with
mountains or plains.
Some areas that already use wind for a large share of power generation have
few suitable sites remaining or face resistance to further expansion from the
local population (e.g. a few locations in Germany). Considerable uncertainty
exists about the penetration levels that can be attained by wind electricity
7
Figure 63
Reduction of Purchase Price for Vestas V47
Source: Junginger.
WIND POWER
Number of turbines ordered
163