http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/IW3P/IB/2009/03/18/00015... - 0 views
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Installed global wind generating capacity expanded rapidly from only 10 megawatts (MW) in 1980 to 94,124 MW of installed capacity by the end of 2007 (see Table 1). 2 At the end of 2007, Europe and North America accounted for 80.5% of global wind power capacity.
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large extent on wind resources, in particular, mean wind speed at hub height, the cost of turbines and related equipment, the proximity to a sufficiently strong transmission grid (i.e. the cost of grid extension and grid reinforcement), and the accessibility of the site. Other factors such as the existing generating mix, system load profiles, connections to grids in other countries/regions, electricity markets, system operating procedures, and land costs also have a significant impact on the costs of wind power generation. A large number of studies compare the costs of wind power with those of other electricity generation technologies (e.g., NEA/IEA, 2005; Kammen and Pacca, 2004; Lazard, 2008; CPUC, 2008; EIA, 2008; ESMAP/WB, 2008). Since electricity generation technologies vary significantly in terms of their investment requirements and operational characteristics, costs are converted to a level or base for comparison purposes, known as the levelized (or bus bar) cost of electricity generation. The levelized cost includes mainly investment or capital costs, operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, and fuel costs. While capital and fixed O&M costs are proportional to installed capacity, variable O&M and fuel costs are functions of electricity output.
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large extent on wind resources, in particular, mean wind speed at hub height, the cost of turbines and related equipment, the proximity to a sufficiently strong transmission grid (i.e. the cost of grid extension and grid reinforcement), and the accessibility of the site. Other factors such as the existing generating mix, system load profiles, connections to grids in other countries/regions, electricity markets, system operating procedures, and land costs also have a significant impact on the costs of wind power generation. A large number of studies compare the costs of wind power with those of other electricity generation technologies (e.g., NEA/IEA, 2005; Kammen and Pacca, 2004; Lazard, 2008; CPUC, 2008; EIA, 2008; ESMAP/WB, 2008). Since electricity generation technologies vary significantly in terms of their investment requirements and operational characteristics, costs are converted to a level or base for comparison purposes, known as the levelized (or bus bar) cost of electricity generation. The levelized cost includes mainly investment or capital costs, operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, and fuel costs. While capital and fixed O&M costs are proportional to installed capacity, variable O&M and fuel costs are functions of electricity output.
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