Repower Predicts Wind Will Be Competitive in 10 Years

0 Comments | Renewable Energy Today, Sept 24, 2004

Reuters recently reported that Fritz Vahrenholt, chairman of German wind turbine manufacturer Repower, said he expects wind energy to become competitive with fossil fuel-based electricity generation by 2014, due primarily to improvements in the efficiency of wind energy technology and increases in the price of coal and natural gas.

According to Reuters, Repower last week began construction of a five-megawatt wind energy facility in the city of Brunsbuettel that will feature the company's new prototype wind turbine. Reuters said the turbine was originally developed for offshore applications and will measure more than 180 meters from the base to the top of the rotorblade.

Vahrenholt told Reuters that the new wind facility will require approximately three months "to generate the energy that was put into it."

(REUTERS: 9/20)