JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #54 - January 2010 - 3

EDITORIAL No54 January 2010 47th year President and CEO/Publisher: Frédérique Mutel mutel@jeccomposites.com Editor-in-chief: Frédéric Reux Tel: +33 (0)1 58 36 15 11 reux@jeccomposites.com Infinitely renewable! The wind power sector is booming worldwide, and wind farms are springing up everywhere. All the statistics point to continued sustained growth. Nations are adopting proactive policies to encourage the installation of wind farms, and by the same token are catalysing the development of renewable energies. Europe today represents 32.8% of the installed capacity, with North America accounting for 32.6% and Asia 31.5% (2008 figures). North America and Asia have invested heavily and succeeded in closing the gap on the Europeans. China has done so well that, today, it is exporting its surplus power. South America and Africa, on the other hand, are lagging far behind, and their initiatives are generally small-scale. This strong growth, and the potential that the sector represents for the composites industry, have attracted many a hungry eye. The most optimistic scenarios suggest an installed capacity of 1,500,000 MW by 2020 (in 2008, capacity amounted to 121,188 MW). Again, in 2008, the wind power sector accounted for over 440,000 jobs worldwide and revenues of over €40 billion. Growth has been exponential. Companies are queuing to get involved in this growth sector, with more and more of them involved today at every market level. Over the medium term, we are sure to see some market concentration, but for now competition is intense, and this goes hand-in-hand with the race to innovate. This month's special report is an illustration of this. Innovation can be seen at every turn, from raw materials to processing technologies. One of the more eye-catching examples of this trend comes from LM Glasfiber, which just a few weeks ago launched a new turbine blade, 61.5 m long: an absolute record. Such stiff competition serves as a powerful stimulus, which is just as well considering the numerous challenges that have to be faced. The size of the blades counts for a great deal: the longer the blades, the higher the efficiency. Not all of the contenders master the technology required for producing such blades. Quality is also an aspect that needs to be permanently monitored. This impacts directly on the maintenance costs. Productivity, too, is of fundamental concern, since this is what determines whether or not a wind turbine is an interesting market proposition. Two other markets, of lesser significance today, will carry far more weight in the future: offshore (1% of the installed capacity in 2008) and domestic wind turbines. The former addresses issues of local resources and wind availability, and the latter is more about individual and behavioural expectations. All told, therefore, there is considerable potential, yet this is highly dependent on the financial incentives and on the buy-back price of the electricity produced. Assistant editor: Franck Glowacz Tel: +33 (0)1 58 36 15 04 glowacz@jeccomposites.com Technical topics: Pierre Lissac info@jeccomposites.com Copy-editor & Graphic designer: Marylène Pinault pinault@jeccomposites.com Antoine Morel morel@jeccomposites.com Advertising managers: Judith Blacker Tel: +33 (0)1 58 36 15 74 blacker@jeccomposites.com Circulation & partnership manager: presse@jeccomposites.com Sandrine Dumarquez dumarquez@jeccomposites.com Subscriptions: www.jeccomposites.com/magazine-subscription/ Fax: +33 (0)1 58 36 15 19 Tel: +33 (0)1 58 36 15 08 dumarquez@jeccomposites.com Marketing/Communication: Patrice Sinthon, sinthon@jeccomposites.com Printing: SPEI - Pulnoy (54), France Legal registration: ISSN 1639-965X Dépôt légal : 1e trimestre 2010 Photos & illustrations: All rights reserved, unless mentioned. JEC Composites Magazine is published by JEC. 25, Bd de l’Amiral Bruix 75016 Paris - France Tel: +33 (0)1 58 36 15 01 Fax: +33 (0)1 58 36 15 14 www.jeccomposites.com The reproduction, even partial, of articles and illustrations is forbidden, unless prior permission is obtained from JEC Composites Magazine. The management of JEC Composites Magazine reserves the right to refuse advertising. Total Qualified Circulation: 31,349 copies (23,500 Print circulation and 7,849 Electronic circulation) May issue (BPA June statement 2009) Frédéric Reux Editor-in-chief No54 January 2010 / jec composites magazine

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JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #54 - January 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #54 - January 2010