Utility MARKET

The Wind Power Market

Wind is a clean, renewable, and homegrown source of energy and plays a vital role in our world’s energy future. In 2008, the U.S. wind energy industry installed over 8,500 megawatts (MW) of new wind power capacity, increasing the nation’s cumulative installed base to over 25,300 MW and producing enough electricity to power the equivalent of nearly 7 million homes. The new U.S. wind projects completed in 2008 account for over 40% of the entire new power-producing capacity added nationally during the year. Wind has the potential of meeting a major part of the world’s electricity needs, with the U.S. government and industry goals to generate over 20% of our electricity from wind by the year 2030.

For wind generation to meet these aggressive goals, the market demands increased levels of energy capture and reliability, reduced operations costs, and advanced grid integration capabilities to support widespread deployment.

It is this environment that is both compelling and demanding that Northern Power Systems introduces its breakthrough technology and next-generation wind turbine, the Northwind 2.2.