2nd Edition
Wind Power The Struggle for Control of a New Global Industry
The wind power business has grown from a niche sector within the energy industry to a global industry that attracts substantial investment. In Europe wind has become the biggest source of new power generation capacity, while also successfully competing with the gas, coal and nuclear sectors in China and the US.
Wind Power looks at the nations, companies and people fighting for control of one of the world’s fastest growing new industries and how we can harness one of the planet’s most powerful energy resources. The book examines the challenges the sector faces as it competes for influence and investment with the fossil fuel industry across the globe. Over the course of this volume, Backwell analyses the industry climbers, the investment trends and the technological advancements that will define the future of wind energy. This second edition is revised throughout and contains new material on frontier wind markets and industry consolidation, as well as the cost reductions and market gains that led to 2015 being a landmark year for the big wind turbine companies.
This is an important resource for professionals working in wind and wider renewable industries, energy finance, conventional energy companies and government as well as researchers, students, journalists and the general public.
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1. From Maoism to Lear Jets
Chapter 2. Big industry moves in
Chapter 3. China shakes the wind industry
Chapter 4. Emerging powers
Chapter 5. The offshore frontier
Chapter 6. After Copenhagen
Chapter 7. Turbine manufacturers in trouble
Chapter 8. The Wind Industry Bounces Back
Chapter 9. Tipping point: Windpower’s iPhone moment
Chapter 10. Challenges for the wind-turbine industry
Conclusion
Biography
Ben Backwell has spent most of his career covering international energy markets and finance. He worked for international news agencies and as an analyst in Houston, Caracas, New York, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires before moving back to his native UK in 2006. He then worked as an analyst covering major oil companies before joining renewable energy news service Recharge, becoming Editor-in-Chief in 2012. He joined FTI Consulting as a Managing Director in 2015 after taking part in the creation of the Solution Wind advocacy campaign ahead of the COP21 climate negotiations. He holds a master's degree in Politics from the University of London.
'Ben Backwell's new book on wind power is a great read, provides the best current overview of the wind industry, how it got to where it is, and what the future challenges are. Highly recomended!'
Henrik Stiesdal, Wind Power Pioneer
