By Sipha Ndawonde, Energy Research Analyst, Frost & Sullivan Inc.

CAPE TOWN – New analysis from from Frost & Sullivan Inc., titled African Large-Scale Wind Turbine Market, finds that the market earned revenues of in excess of US$148.4 million in 2008, and estimates this to reach $424.3m in 2015. The study focuses on the following product segments of the large wind turbine market: 600 kilowatts (kW), 660–850 kW, and greater than 850 kW.

As a result of public pressure to provide reliable power supply, governments in Africa are investing more resources into exploring renewable energy for power generation. The success of the wind power markets in Europe and the USA has convinced many governments that wind power can assist in alleviating some of the power shortages in the continent."

Wind power projects between 120 megawatts (MW) and 300 MW have been announced in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and South Africa. In North Africa, the Zafarana wind site in Egypt continues to increase its installed capacity, and interest is growing in the Algerian, Tunisian, and Moroccan wind power markets.

Monopoly control

A major challenge to market expansion is that the power sector in many African countries is still regulated by monopoly control. Thus, the onus of meeting electricity demand is the sole responsibility of utilities. Furthermore, there are other restraints such as aging infrastructure, over-reliance on single feedstocks for power generation, and the lack of capital for electrical infrastructure refurbishment. This has resulted in many countries failing to meet the rising electricity demand.

Strategic consultation among equipment suppliers, project developers and government institutions on such key issues as grid capacity will promote the market prospects. The level of government support for renewable energy projects will also be a key to the growth of the renewable energy power market.

African Large-Scale Wind Turbine Market is part of the Energy & Power Growth Partnership Services programme, which also includes research in the following markets: Renewable Energy Equipment Market in Southern Africa, Hydro Turbine Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Power Rental in Key African Markets. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

Anyone interested in a virtual brochure, which provides a brief synopsis of the research and a table of contents, is invited to send an e-mail to patrick.cairns@frost.com with their full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state, and country. On receipt of this information, a brochure will be sent by e-mail.

California-based F&S has 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses, and the investment community from 40 offices on six continents. More at www.energy.frost.com and www.frost.com