But in some cases alternatives are already cheap enough to compete with conventional power. In Ireland, for instance, wind power can be supported with minimal subsidies, said Jason Bak, CEO of Finavera Renewables, which specializes in wind-powered utilities and wave power equipment. The wind blows hard on the island and its on the edge of Europe's power grid. Recent studies sponsored by the government show that wind power in many instances will be cheaper than electricity from natural gas plants.
"It's a pretty unusual market," he said in an interview in our offices this week. Sweden, Denmark and Scotland may also be able to achieve wind power parity, he speculated.
Concentrated solar power, which harvests the heat of the sun, can also compete with conventional electricity, but t, say proponents. To date, none are large enough.
The wind power industry made big strides last year, according to a Worldwatch Institute report released late Thursday.
15,200 megawatts of new wind turbines were installed around the world last year, representing a 26 percent jump in global wind power capacity, according to the study.
By year's end, total wind power capacity exceeded 74,200 megawatts, enough to offset 43 million tons of carbon dioxide, the institute said.
Germany, Spain and the United States are currently the world's top wind power producers, putting out 60 percent of the global total, but the report says the alternative energy winds are shifting eastward. India and China were No. 3 and No. 5, respectively, in a list of countries installing new wind turbines. Senior Researcher Janet Sawin predicts the U.S. and China will compete for the top spot in window power output in the coming years.
You can access more details from the report at the Worldwatch Institute's Web site here.
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