Despite facing financial difficulties Indian wind turbine manufacturer Suzlon has moved up one notch in global ranking, from N0.6 to No. 5. This is thanks to its European subsidiary, REPower, says BTM Consult, a leading forecaster and data source for the international wind industry, and part of Navigant's Global Energy Practice.
These rankings were based on capacity installed by the companies in 2012.
2012 rankings shows up a few surprises. For the first time in 12 years, Vestas has lost its top position, ceding the slot to GE Wind. Vestas is now second to GE. Also, Siemens has moved up from the ninth position to the third, thanks to its “dominance in offshore wind”. Another German company, Enercon, has also moved up one notch to No.4.
Another notable feature is that the leading Chinese companies are all now below No.5. Goldwind, which was No.2 in 2011, has slid to the 6th rank. Goldwind is followed by three compatriots—United Power, Sinovel and Ming Yang. Gamesa, the Spanish multinational, has now come to the 10th position, “is weighed down by a feed-in tariff moratorium in its home Spanish market.”
BTM attributes the success of GE to the rush in the US to install wind power in order to catch the ‘production tax credit’ incentive, whose longevity is under a cloud.