Wind power projects need policy certainty - experts

It says Suzlon Wind Energy, among the world's five biggest suppliers, claims to have identified 'many projects' in SA. Danish gas producer Dong Energy said it would make direct investments in wind power SA, as well as in China, Vietnam, and Chile, in order to secure carbon credits to reduce the group's emissions by a mandatory 43% by 2012. It was cheaper for Dong to buy carbon credits than reduce internal emissions, said Cilla Clausen, the firm's head of carbon funds and purchases. 'It would be very good to get three to four (wind) projects running in South Africa over the next one to one and a half years.' The report notes Jorn Hammer, MD of wind turbine supplier Vestas Wind Systems, cautioned that a feed-in tariff was 'extremely important' for the market's long-term sustainability. 'We, like the rest of the industry, are keen to see what happens on that front.' The National Energy Regulator of SA said last year it planned to release details of its proposed feed-in tariff by the end of next month. Full report in Business Report