Major brands and other emerging non-utility customers signed 52 per cent, or 2,074MW, of the wind power capacity contracted through power purchase agreements (PPA) in 2015 in the USA. Customers driving this new demand for wind energy include Fortune 500 companies behind household brands, like Tide and Downy, high-tech companies, universities, and major U.S. cities.
This non-traditional customer class contracted for the majority of electric generating capacity though wind PPAs in a given year for the first time, according to the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) forthcoming 2015 U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report. Demand from corporate buyers and other emerging wind energy customers is growing exponentially. Traditionally, utilities buy the largest amount of wind energy overall; rising demand from Fortune 500 companies and others represents an additional, expanded market. The 52 per cent share of capacity contracted for by non-utility purchasers in 2015 more than doubles the 23 per cent share of that market contracted for in 2014, and far outpaces the 5 per cent share in 2013. In total, corporate and other emerging buyers have signed contracts for more than 4,500MW of wind power capacity.
