While government restrictions hamper traditional markets like Australia, wind energy projects move ahead in China, Germany and Japan.
The world's biggest wind turbine maker, Vestas Wind, and India's Suzian Energy Ltd. continue to grow their alternative energy businesses in China.
Wind energy is of particular interest to China. With two-thirds of its power coming from coal, the People's Republic is striving to cut pollution.
China added nearly 500 megawatts of wind energy capacity in 2005, double the increase in 2004. In 2006, China is expected to add about 2,000 megawatts in available wind energy. China's goal is to reach 5,000 megawatts by 2010 and 30,000 megawatts by 2020.
China National Offshore Corp, the country's third-largest oil company, is analyzing the feasibility of building wind farms off of Chinese coasts.
Bloomberg News reports that Germany is the world's largest wind market, with some 18,500 megawatts of wind power capacity. Japan's government has drafted a plan to triple wind power generation to 3,000 megawatts by March 2011.
