The World of Wind Power – The WWEApodcast

Argentina has some of the largest wind resources in the world, but only a small proportion of these are currently being used to generate electricity. Alongside other resources, the country has an abundance of renewable energy. Despite going through difficult economic times, Argentina has the potential not only to cover its own energy needs with domestic renewable energy, but also to start exporting hydrogen-based commodities and other energy intensive products. Alejandro Gesino, the recently elected President of ALTEA (the Argentine Alliance for the Energy Transition), formerly the Argentine Wind Energy Association, explains the current status of the Argentinian wind power market, the barriers, and how demand for cheap electricity is driving new investment.

Small wind turbines could play an important role by reducing electricity prices for consumers and strengthening the security of the power supply. While many governments have not fully grasped the benefits of small-scale wind power, smaller businesses have emerged as a significant market segment for small wind turbines. The Indian company Balaji Systems offers small wind turbines ranging from 100 Watts to 20 Kilowatts. In this talk, the company's founder, D. Kanagaraj, explains the market situation, as well as the main drivers and barriers for small wind. The company's main clients are small businesses in India, but there is also increasing interest in its products from outside the country.

As a country without fossil fuel resources, Uruguay has undergone a fundamental change, transforming itself from a fossil fuel importer into a renewable energy exporter. The country already generates almost all of its power from renewable energy sources, with wind turbines contributing almost a third. Other relevant renewable power sources include hydro, bioenergy and solar. José Cataldo, a professor with focus on wind power at the Universidad de la República de Uruguay, played an instrumental role in developing the country's wind power programme. In this episode, he describes how the country has reached important milestones, the main drivers and the barriers that have had to be overcome. The main lesson is that it is important to make use of one's own resources, which offer room for future growth.

Almost a century ago, pioneers in Ukraine laid the foundations for modern wind power technology. Following independence, investment in larger wind farms began, establishing Ukraine as a significant market for wind turbines. As one of the largest countries in Europe in terms of land mass, Ukraine is blessed with all types of renewable energy resources. Yevhenii Kontorshchykov, an analyst at the Ukrainian Wind Energy Association, explains the current situation regarding the country's energy supply and wind power. Despite the ongoing war, investment in the wind sector is growing, with many communities and enterprises starting to invest directly to secure their electricity supply. This is leading to a more decentralised power supply structure and new business opportunities.