Bonn – Small wind turbines are playing an increasing role in many countries, in particular in Asia and in North America. So far, European small wind markets, aside from the UK, have not been major drivers of this success story, neither technically nor economically. This might well change in the foreseeable future. In the past weeks, two European countries have taken important steps to boost their domestic markets for small wind turbines.

Denmark is preparing the introduction of a feed-in tariff (FIT) for small wind turbines. The planned remuneration is 0,33 € per Kilowatthour (kWh) for units up to 10 Kilowatt (kW) and 0,20 €/kWh for up to 25 kW. The country has already the highest wind power share of currently 40 %, mainly due to large wind turbines, and has now understood the additional and complementary benefits from small generation units.

Poland has adopted a new renewable energy law which will include a feed-in tariff for small wind turbines as well. Up to 3 kW the FIT will be 0,17 € per kWh, up to 10 kW, the rate will be 0,15 €/kWh. This decision has the potential of creating major changes of the Polish renewable energy market which has so far not been based on local and domestic investors.

The indicated feed-in rates, if implemented in a comprehensive way, will allow the small wind sector in both countries to grow substantially. Denmark and Poland are aiming at enabling citizens and small businesses to harvest wind power for electricity generation and support their domestic small wind sector, thus also creating opportunities for export of small wind equipment.

WWEA Secretary General Stefan Gsänger: “Outside the large small wind markets in China and USA, the small wind industry has been struggling to establish itself as a major player on the energy markets, mainly due to a lack of political support. Technically and economically, small wind has a lot to offer. Denmark and Poland bring now new hope to the small wind sector in Europe. WWEA welcomes this development as it will help European companies to deploy their capacities and capabilities domestically. Aside from such markets in the industrialized world, a very big potential for small wind lies in electrification of rural areas, in particular in the developing countries. At the WSSW2015 in Husum we will highlight existing market opportunities also for hybrid small wind systems in micro grids and mini grids.”

Source: WWEA