Rising Electricity Demand Boosts the African Large-Scale Wind Turbine Market, Finds Frost & Sullivan

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, January 14 - Despite its potential, the African large-scale wind turbine market is yet
to contribute significantly to the power sector in the continent. The low
price of electricity generation from traditional feedstocks, such as coal and
natural gas, has limited the interest in renewable energy power generation.
Over the past five years, however, higher-than-anticipated economic growth in
African states has led to a rapid increase in electricity demand and renewed
interest in alternative forms of power generation.

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New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (www.energy.frost.com), African
Large-Scale Wind Turbine Market, finds that the market earned revenues of
over US$148.4 million in 2008 and estimates this to reach US$424.3 million in
2015. The study focuses on the following product segments of the large wind
turbine market: 600kW, 660-850kW and greater than 850kW.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides a brief
synopsis of the research and a table of contents, then send an e-mail to
Patrick Cairns, Corporate Communications, at patrick.cairns@frost.com, with
your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail
address, company website, city, state and country. Upon receipt of the above
information, a brochure will be sent to you by e-mail.

"As a result of public pressure to provide reliable power supply,
governments in Africa are investing more resources into exploring renewable
energy for power generation," says Frost & Sullivan Energy Research Analyst
Sipha Ndawonde. "The success of the wind power markets in Europe and the
United States has convinced many governments that wind power can assist in
alleviating some of the power shortages in the continent."

Wind power projects between 120MW and 300MW have been announced in Kenya,
Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Africa. In North Africa, the Zafarana wind site
in Egypt continues to increase its installed capacity, and interest is
growing in the Algerian, Tunisian and Moroccan wind power markets.

A major challenge to market expansion is that the power sector in many
African countries is still regulated by monopoly control. Thus, the onus of
meeting electricity demand is the sole responsibility of utilities.

"Moreover, there are other restraints such as aging infrastructure,
over-reliance on single feedstocks for power generation, and the lack of
capital for electrical infrastructure refurbishment," explains Ndawonde.
"This has resulted in many countries failing to meet the rising electricity
demand."

Strategic consultation among equipment suppliers, project developers and
government institutions on key issues such as grid capacity will promote the
market prospects. The level of government support for renewable energy
projects will also be a key to the growth of the renewable energy power
market.

African Large-Scale Wind Turbine Market is part of the Energy & Power
Growth Partnership Services programme, which also includes research in the
following markets: Renewable Energy Equipment Market in Southern Africa,
Hydro Turbine Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Power Rental in Key African
Markets. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed
market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following
extensive interviews with market participants.

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    African Large-Scale Wind Turbine Market
    M445

    Contact:
    Patrick Cairns
    Corporate Communications - Africa
    P: +27-18-464-2402
    E: patrick.cairns@frost.com

www.frost.com

Patrick Cairns, Corporate Communications - Africa of Frost & Sullivan, +27-18-464-2402, patrick.cairns at frost.com