The cost of wind energy is falling in the USA as uptake of the technology increased rapidly in 2012.
New data from the US Department of Energy shows that over 13 GW of new wind power capacity was added to the grid in 2012 while the capital cost of new projects fell for the fourth year in a row.
The 13 GW of new capacity added in 2012 made wind energy the number one source of new electricity generating capacity for the first time, accounting for 43 per cent of all new electric capacity additions and $25 billion in investment. The country's cumulative installed wind energy rose to above 60 GW by the end of last year, says the DOE.
Data in the DOE's Wind Technologies Market Report 2012 shows that the capital cost of wind farms fell to $1940/kW in 2012, with the average cost of energy reflected in power purchase agreements signed in 2012 also falling. It also shows that the capacity factor of new wind projects in the USA is rising, and reached 33 per cent in 2011.
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said that the report indicated that wind "is becoming a strong competitor". Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said that the growth seen in 2012 underscored "the importance of consistent policy" in clean tech innovation.
The report also found that nine states now rely on wind power for more than 12 per cent of their electricity consumption, with wind contributing more than 20 per cent of demand in Iowa, South Dakota and Kansas.
On a cumulative basis, Texas remain the leader with over 12 GW installed at the end of 2012 - more than twice as much as California, the next-highest state.
Another trend highlighted in the report is the use of larger wind turbines with longer, lighter blades that has enabled the exploitation of wind resources in low-wind areas.
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