Generation innovation : Part two: We continue our focus on cost reduction in wind energy, and ask some major innovators in the sector where we are heading for in the major markets.

According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), the global wind market is expected to grow again in 2011, with an expected 40 GW of new wind power capacity to be added.The organisation predicts that by 2015, global installed wind power capacity will more than double to 450 GW - from 194.4 GW at the end of 2010. Demand is expected to be especially strong in the European and Chinese markets. It remains to be seen how developments in the U.S. will affect the market as we go forward. The U.S. still suffers from the ‘stop-start’ policy support that has lead to uneven growth over the years, and the current political situation remains turbulent (see ‘U.S. Cliffhanger’ on page 14, and the U.S. section of this article on page 40).What can we expect in terms of technology development from some of the larger organisations - those whose development can be seen as something of a barometer for where the industry is heading?