Role of Government
The role of Government in Wind Power development increased a lot during the past 20 years.
India is demonstrating the possibilities of the Wind Power development in conditions of budget limitation. In 1992 the amount of installed Wind Power was 40 MWatt only, in 2000 India already had more wind power than Netherlands, Italy, Great Britain. It became possible due to the system of planning and creating the favorable conditions for investors – future owners of Wind Turbines.
In 1992 India established Ministry of non-traditional energy sources, which is planning the development of this branch and control of investments and loans. Using budget funds, the Ministry is planning the construction, makes demonstrating projects, provides the certification of equipment. The Fund for Loans and Credits is intended for building Wind Power stations. After expertise the decision is made if the consumer already has 25% of the cost of object in cash. The loan can be given for 6 years.
Currently 12 Indian companies produce 50-750 kW Wind Turbines together with such companies as Vestas, Micon, Zond, Carter, Enercon.
According to recent data of Ministry, the annual wind energy production is 2.0-2.5K kW-hours per 1 Watt of installed power. The Government of India is planning to increase the part of Wind Power in total energy production in 2010 up to 5%, in 2020 – up to 10%.
Big research programs seriously help the development of wind energy.
In USA the research program was developed and being realized by Electric Energy Institute (ЕРК1). Together with US Department of Energy the Institute develops new equipment, evaluates the efficiency of projects, optimizes the parameters of Wind Turbines. The program also assists to learn the personnel, discuss the new projects, coordinate the collaboration with European Alliance.
The program Joule II is intended for the development of new technologies in energy and alternative power sources. It coordinates the efforts in production of Wind Turbines in Europe and distributes the orders between companies in Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Scotland, Spain, Greece. The program is funded from Alliance budget.
Recently Germany has leading place in Wind Power development. 10 Institutes are busy with the development of Wind Turbines. Each year from 1995 Germany installs Wind Power in the amount of 300-500 MWatt.
Big program of development and testing of Wind Turbines was established in Sweden. It is based on MegaWatt Turbines.
Denmark by 2005 reduced the CO2 blowouts on 25% due to the Wind Power.
Canadian Polytechnical Institute of Monreal continue the study of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines. One of the studied Turbines is 4 MWatt power.
Australian University of Melburn made serious testing of Turbines with vertically folding blades.
Several scientific research programs in different countries (Denmark, Italy, Japan) are intended for the improvement of efficiency and saving losses in alternators and regulators of Wind Turbines rotating with constantly changing frequency.
About 95% of energy supplied by Wind Turbines, is produced by Wind Farms (Parks). The part of them operates in parallel with traditional power sources.
USA is the first in using the Wind Power in the World. There are three biggest Wind Farms in Califirnia -Altamont Pass (1500 MWatt), Tehachapi Pass, San_Gorgonio Pass.
Wind Power complexes combined with another power sources, provide uninterrupted power supply of autonomous consumers in spite of wind intensity.
Wind-diesel Power Stations are widely distributed in Europe. German Institute of Wind Power (OE-1), “Enercon” company and Center of Wind Power Research in France and other companies, study the improvement of these stations.
In many countries starting from 1990 the Wind Power branch became the self-dependent industry. The total installed power in the World is appr. 10,000 MWatt.