BTM Navigant has revealed a significant shuffling of the top turbine suppliers, according to the findings of its 20th Annual World Wind Energy Market Update.
According to BTM Navigant's ranking, the acknowledged Big Three turbine suppliers – Vestas, Siemens and GE – occupied the top three spots.
Vestas remained the No. 1 supplier after strong sales both onshore and offshore, notes Navigant. Siemens jumped two positions to reach No. 2 in 2014, due to strong sales in the offshore sector and the good shape of the German market. If more of the planned 2014 offshore wind had been fully commissioned and grid-connected, Siemens would have challenged Vestas' position.
Lastly, GE Energy recovered after the renewal of wind tax credit support in its home market and rose from No. 5 to the third position in a technical draw with Goldwind, adding that GE finished only 31 MW ahead of Goldwind, the fourth-ranked turbine supplier.
The rankings are as follows:
- Vestas
- Siemens
- GE Energy
- Goldwind
- Enercon
- Suzlon Group
- United Power
- Gamesa
- Ming Yang
- Envision
‘The revival of the U.S. and German markets meant there was a significant shake-up in the rankings of the world's top 10 wind turbine suppliers in 2014,’ according to Jesse Broehl, Navigant's senior research analyst and a co-author of the report. To substantiate its rankings, BTM Navigant provided some quick takeways on the following:
Goldwind dropped from No. 2 to No. 4, despite its strong performance at home. Its small footprint outside China means it did not benefit from the good year in Germany, Brazil and the U.S., Broehl notes.
Enercon moved down two places to No. 5, as it relies largely on the growth of its home market of Germany, where it supplied nearly 40% of all its turbine installations in 2014.
Suzlon Group rose one position to No. 6, supported by its then-subsidiary Senvion (currently being divested) and its operations in India. ‘The contraction of Suzlon in its traditionally strong market, the U.S., did not allow it to recover a higher ranking,’ says Broehl. Navigant predicts that Suzlon – now fully separated from subsidiary Senvion – will drop from the top 10 rankings in 2015.
United Power maintained its position as the world's No. 8 supplier in the 2014 rush to install capacity in China.
Gamesa had a strong performance in the Americas and India, allowing it to remain one of the top 10 suppliers globally.
Ming Yang remained No. 9 in 2014, pulled by the growth of its home market, China.
Envision crept into last place in the top 10 supplier list in 2014, thanks to the spectacular growth in its home market – becoming the fourth Chinese manufacturer in Navigant Research's top 10 chart. In 2013, Envision was No. 11.
For more information the World Wind Energy Market Update, click here.
