Untapped potential, yes: but what will turn the spigot? [wind power]

Technology costs have come down hugely and wind is now knocking at the door of coal, nuclear and even gas as the least-cost energy source in developed countries. From his experience in the UK the author is aware of wind farms that have put in bids under NFFO at about 3 US cents/kWh and he imagines this is a benchmark for many projects in the US. Yet in many of the World Bank´s client countries, which have good and in some cases outstanding wind regimes, costs are much higher, installed capacity is low, and the prospects gloomy. In his analysis, he uses illustrations from those countries in which he has, or is working on wind energy investment projects with their clients. These are principally in Cape Verde, China, Egypt, and Morocco.