Vestas replaces GE as world’s top wind turbine installer in 2013

The world’s biggest wind turbine maker, Vestas Wind Systems, is now also the world’s leading installer of wind turbines, with newly released data showing the Danish company installed 13.2 per cent of all wind energy in 2013, nearly a third more than its closest competitor, GE.

After what CEO Anders Runevad described as “a tough two-year turnaround process,” Vestas has knocked GE Power & Water out of top position from 2012, according to GlobalData’s newly released unique wind turbine installation figures for 2013.

According to Vestas’ own figures, the company installed turbines in 31 countries in 2013, its largest market being Germany, followed by China, Canada, and Brazil. Its largest market for sales in 2013 was the United States – Vestas recently announced it’s seeking 450 more workers for its four factories in Colorado after hiring 400 already this year – followed by Germany, Canada, and Sweden.

GE, meanwhile, has disappeared completely from the top five original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in 2013, along with Spain’s Gamesa Corporacion Tecnologica, which lost its spot in fifth place. According to GlobalData, GE installed 980.2MW of wind turbines in 2013, which is more than 80 per cent lower than their 2012 installed capacity.

German turbine manufacturer Enercon has moved up to become the second largest turbine supplier in 2013, climbing up from its fourth position in 2012. Germany, Canada and Turkey proved major markets for Enercon in 2013, where the company installed total capacities of 1,484.8MW, 582.5MW and 237.1MW, respectively.

Chinese wind turbine supplier Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology (Goldwind) has climbed into third place in 2013, advancing from its seventh position in 2012. GlobalData attributes this move to the company’s increasing installations in the Chinese domestic market.

German OEM Siemens slipped to fourth position in the rankings, with Goldwind overtaking the company to claim its position from 2012. Siemens’ drop follows its decline in US, UK and Romanian wind turbine installations.

Suzlon Group was another new entrant in the top five and ranked as the fifth largest OEM for 2013, advancing from its sixth position in 2012. The company installed more turbines in 2013 than in 2012, conducting large-scale installations in Canada, Germany and Poland, says GlobalData.