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Wind Turbine Market Overview (Windkraftanlagen 1996 Marktübersicht)A review by Paul Gipe Gesselschaft für Windenergie to become the Bundesverband Wind Energie (German Wind Turbine Owners Association) since this article was written. In April 1996, the German wind energy association for interior lands ( Interessenverband Windkraft Binnenland or IWB) published its 129 page survey of the German wind turbine market. The survey is an excellent source of detailed technical information on small and medium-sized wind turbines. A mastery of German is not needed for using the technical information, however, the report also contains several articles for which a working knowledge of German is necessary. The survey is divided into several sections: introductory material on climate and the value of wind-generated electricity; market overview; a series of articles on planning a project, insurance, incorporation, German planning law, and state-by-state incentives. The report also includes turbine-by-turbine production statistics for 1995. Like the competing Wind Turbine 1996 Market Overview by Winkra-Recom, IWB's Wind Turbine 1996 Market Overview lists detailed specifications on rotor, gearbox, generator, power ratings, tower heights, mass, control systems, noise emissions, number of turbines installed, and price. Though somewhat less comprehensive than Winkra's listing of 274 different wind turbines, IWB's market survey goes one step further and includes a tabular power curve from an approved testing institution for a dozen medium-sized wind turbines. These power curves make interesting reading for afficiandos of wind technology. They not only provide wind power at a given wind speed but also the coefficient of performance, c[sub p]. (This may be standard practice in Europe, but it's the first time I've seen it done.) The survey lists tested power curves for An Bonus's 405/37; Enercon's E40; Micon's M700-225, M1500-500, and M1500-600; Nordex's N27, and N29; Nordtank's 300/31, and 500/41; Südwind's N3127; Tacke's 600; and Vestas's V39. Another novel feature of the survey for American readers, and an example of the transparency of the German market, is the inclusion of figures on total sales in Germany and the number of turbines installed in the country by manufacturer. IWB is one of two wind energy associations in Germany, the other is the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Windenergie (DGW) . IWB claims to be the largest of the two with 2,200 members. DGW has somewhat fewer members mostly in the far north of Germany whereas IWB's members are concentrated in central Germany. Both groups represent about the same amount of wind capacity. IWB is a non-profit (e.V.) association that primarily represents wind turbine owners. Manufacturers and consultants are prohibited from sitting on IWB's board of directors. Instead, manufacturers and consultants sit on an advisory committee, or verbandrat, which reports to the board of directors, verband. IWB also publishes the monthly news magazine Neue Energie. The organizations annual meeting was held in Kassel on Saturday May 11, 1996. Some 100-150 people attended the low-key, casual affair, the highlight of which was a lively panel discussion by representatives of the six major political parties on the Stromeinspeisungsgesetz (Electricity Feed Law or StEG). Windkraftanlagen 1996 Marktübersicht (Wind Turbine 1996 Market Overview); Interessenverband Windkraft Binnenland (IWB); Natruper Strasse 70; D-49090 Osnabrück; Germany; phone: +49 541 96 19 185; fax: +49 541 96 19 186; April 1996; DM 30, 129 pp. (The following is an approximation of the German language contents and not a translation. I welcome corrections or additions.) Table of Contents
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