Study Group: Indian Wind Power Market Experts

GLG News^SM Analyses by this Study Group's Leading Experts(?)

Strategic Windpower M&A Wide Open

April 21, 2009

Analysis by:Randall Tinkerman, Chief Consultant, Founder,

Analysis of:EDF wind arm sees M&A bonanza in crisis | www.reuters.com

The financial crisis has indeed dampened windpower project finance for the short-term.  Such a situation precipitates strategic opportunities for well-placed players.  This public statement by one of the largest global developers is evidence that the sector may open up with a bang in the near-term.

Perhaps the Author Needs to Research Before Commenting

February 29, 2008

Analysis by:Randall Tinkerman, Chief Consultant, Founder,

Analysis of:Loss of wind causes Texas power grid emergency | www.reuters.com

The main component of the Texas problem was the inability of conventional generation to deliver when the wind fell off.  Predictions of future windpower are becoming highly reliable, even up to 30 hours.  The Texas drop off was as predicted, but backup plants failed. Further, the entire US grid has reliability problems completely unrelated to windpower.

EDP’s acquisition of Horizon heats up wind energy’s M&A arena

April 2, 2007

Analysis by:John Vanden Bosche, Principal Engineer,

Analysis of:Portugal's EDP to buy U.S. Horizon Wind Energy | today.reuters.com

With the global trend towards renewable energy, mergers and acquisitions have been significant in the wind turbine manufacturer arena, with the recent example the bidding war between AREVA and Suzlon Energy for REpower. But the M&A arena in wind energy is now extending beyond turbine manufacturers to project developers, as Energias de Portugal’s (EDP) acquisition of Horizon Energy demonstrates.

The bottleneck of renewable energy electrification system: System sustainable operation

March 29, 2007

Analysis by:Charlie Dou, Chief Executive Officer,

Analysis of:Providing Services to Rural Populations: Electricité de France | www.wbcsd.org

Electricity contributes not only to the improvement of education, health and living conditions, it also contributes to the development of economic activities and to the generation of wealth. However, two billion people still do not have access to electricity. Using renewable energy to power those population in remote rural areas are in the high priority for most developing countries. But its sustainable operation is a bottleneck to approach its basic goals.
The report provides four renewable energy rural electrification programs carried out by EDF:
One in South Africa targeting 100K people (SHS);
One in Morocco targeting 100K people(SHS);
Two in Mali ( Korayé Kurumba and Yeelen Kura) targeting 40K people (PV/Diesel and SHS)

Local RESCO are developed. By 2007, after full rollout, EDF aims to touch 670K beneficiaries through the program.

Lessons learnt:
RESCOs are very sensitive to cash flow problems; 
A lack of visibility on the institutional frameworks of the countries concerned;
Start-up costs need to be controlled; 
A general lack of local skills and training;
A lack of risk-covering mechanisms (institutional risks for example);
Fee-for-service business model is viable and sustainable

Detailed case study information are available.

Siemens Offshore Wind Farm Projects a Sign of Things to Come

March 28, 2007

Analysis by:John Vanden Bosche, Principal Engineer,

Analysis of:Siemens wins wind power deal | www.fin24.co.za

Siemens recent commitment to build two offshore wind parks in Britain reinforces that the German engineering company wants to be a part of the offshore sector of the wind industry. The offshore sector has not been completely successful, and many companies have either pulled out of projects or seen overruns in costs. But as demand for alternative energy escalates, and as onshore wind sites become more constrained in Northern Europe, the demand for offshore wind should grow.

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