US-based GE Wind topped the list as 2012’s top wind turbine manufacturer, according to a new report.
According to preliminary data from B&M Navigant’s World Market Update 2012, GE leapfrogged past second place Danish company Vestas, largely on the mad dash to complete projects (helping GE Capture 15% of the global market last year) before the Production Tax Credit was originally set to expire by December, 31, 2012. Fortunately, the credit was extended for another year in January.
Image of wind farm via Shutterstock
Siemens was number three, up six spots from 2011. Enercon moved up one spot to fourth, and rounding out the top five was the Suzlon Group, up from sixth the prior year. Meanwhile, Spanish company Gamesa fell out of the top five, thanks to wind moratorium concerns within its own borders.
Perhaps most surprising was that, despite the strength of China as a leader in wind energy, and having four of its top companies in the top ten (United Power, Goldwind, Sinovel, and Mingyang), none of them were in the top five.
While GE’s move up the wind turbine market ladder was positive for the company, Vestas lost the top spot for the first time since 2000 and must not be happy about that.
An analyst in Bloomberg recently had this to say on Vestas losing the number one spot, and who they should be watching over their shoulder:
“It’s been part of their identity at Vestas that they’re the biggest in the world,” said Jacob Pedersen, an analyst at Sydbank A/S in Aabenraa, Denmark. “From a Vestas point of view I would fear Siemens a lot more than GE. Siemens is more global in their reach. GE is extremely dependent on the U.S. Market.”
Siemens had some solid market gains globally, including a 270-megawatt order from Australia last August, as well as announcing a new Turkish wind power plant in October.
With total wind capacity increasing by 20% globally in 2012, will turbine manufacturers like GE Wind benefit thanks to firm US Growth? Will China see one of their own companies crack the top five within the next few years, like its solar counterparts? Will Vestas regain the top spot after one disappointing year? No one knows, but these are definitely interesting times in the global wind market.
Main Source: BusinessWire
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