The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal

WIND.ALERT FOR JANUARY 2004 FROM WINDPOWER
MONTHLY

Here are your summaries of the top stories in the January 2004
issue of Windpower Monthly. For a descriptive list of this month's
full contents just go to http://www.windpower-monthly.com/current

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Joining the ranks of the respectable
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 1 2004
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Given a fair market, a good site on land and the removal of
regulatory barriers, wind power today can compete on price with
any other source of electricity generation. For a technology which
is just 25 years old, that's no mean achievement, especially in
view of its relatively high finance costs. Our unique annual
analysis of wind power's competitive position this year
reveals... (Go to
http://www.windpower-monthly.com/current,#focus to read more
about this article)

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Not without risk
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 1 2004
-------------------------
While some hail the joining of Vestas and NEG Micon, the two
biggest companies in the wind industry, as creating a world
leader that will take production capacity out of the global
market and reduce price pressure, for others it looks like a
classic defensive merger. Investors had three particular
concerns before the merger announcement. At least three
additional items have been added to the list. Read the
entire opinion column at
http://www.windpower-monthly.com/currentleader

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Danish giants head for merger in quest for new strength
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 1 2004
-------------------------
Gambling on securing at least 35% of the world wind
market next year, Vestas and NEG Micon -- respectively
the largest and second largest manufacturers of wind
turbines in the world -- have announced their intention
to merge. First, however, they must secure the
agreement of the 75,000 shareholders in the two
companies. Vestas is offering to buy NEG Micon's
shares, a bid which rewarded NEG Micon shareholders
with a 40% boost in share value. Reaction from wind
turbine customers has been one of surprise, even of
shock. Read more about the merger and what the rest
of the industry has to say about it in the January issue.

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Guarded welcome for Spain's proposed new wind
support system
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 1 2004
-------------------------
New legislation proposed by the Spanish government
aimed at reducing the uncertainty connected with future
wind power prices has been welcomed by the country's
wind sector, though with some reservations. Scrapping
the basis of the popular and successful production
incentive is making wind power producers nervous. On
the other hand, they will be free to choose between a
fixed premium tariff or to try their luck scheduling and
trading production in the daily electricity pool, though
with a guaranteed 40% premium on top of the pool price.
We unravel the complexities of the new system in the
current issue of Windpower Monthly.

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Another year of bust after boom in the United States
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 1 2004
-------------------------
The US wind industry has just completed a near-record
year with almost 1700 MW of new wind capacity installed.
Although celebrations are subdued as 2004 starts without
the benefit of wind's federal production tax credit, plenty
of good news came out of 2003. Projects were completed
in 17 states and the year was exceptional for the rise and
dominance of the large wind turbine. For a run down of
completed projects, details of who built how much and
which turbine suppliers dominated the market, see the
January issue.

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Delight in Britain at increased Renewables Obligation, but will
it help?
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 1 2004
-------------------------
The wind industry is euphoric over the UK government's
announcement of a quick fix to the Renewables Obligation (RO).
Electricity retailers are to increase the proportion of green
power in their supply portfolios from 10% in 2010 to 15%
by 2015. But market players say it is too early to tell
whether the fix will be enough to improve the terms of
wind power purchase agreements (PPAs). Without better
PPAs, developers can continue to whistle for project
finance. Ironically, the regulatory failings which are
preventing bankable PPAs have caused wind power prices
to rise way beyond the actual cost of generation. In the
current issue of Windpower Monthly, we take a good
hard at how this failure of market economy has come about.

-------------------------
Wind neither better nor worse off in France at close of national
energy debate
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 1 2004
-------------------------
France's drawn out national energy debate at times bordered
on the farcical in its consideration of wind power. Among the
arguments put forward was a claim that wind energy is
neither clean nor renewable because back-up power is needed
to cover demand when the wind fails to blow. The refute of
this claim moves the discussion from the sublime to the
ridiculous, as you can read in our report of the debate in
Windpower Monthly's January issue. At the end of it all,
wind power has been left neither better nor worse off than
it was before. Plans for a national wind power agency are
in process and local authorities have been told to look
favourably on wind plant siting applications.

-------------------------
Seeking common ground on wind and wildlife issues in
America
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 1 2004
-------------------------
A head-to-head meeting in Washington DC between wind
industry members and environmentalists sought to find
common ground on solutions to wildlife and wind energy
problems. Missing, however, was a positive approach from
wildlife experts to working with the industry on finding sites
for wind power stations where birds and animals will not be
unduly endangered or disturbed. Windpower Monthly sat
through the two day meeting, which at times was hostile
and acrimonious.

-------------------------
Large scale wind kicks off in China with construction of two
100 MW plant
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 1 2004
-------------------------
Regional authorities are already rallying behind the Chinese
government's call for faster development of the national
wind energy resource with plans for a series of 100 MW
projects. Tenders for the first two projects have been
awarded and the National Development and Reform
Commission is signalling that a further 2000 MW of
projects could soon follow. To find out which wind
companies are already gaining footholds in China
read the current issue of Windpower Monthly.



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