Wind turbine-maker powers ahead

Vestas plans to significantly increase production capacity by 2010

A surge in demand for renewable energy has led to a large order backlog for the world's biggest wind turbine-maker, Vestas Wind Systems.

The Danish firm said it had 7.2bn euros ($10.6bn; �5.7bn) worth of orders still to fulfil at the end of June, up 67% on a year earlier.

Vestas made 98m euros profit after tax in the first six months of 2008, 44% higher than the same period in 2007.

The firm is expecting further growth as the use of wind power grows globally.

Wind power currently accounts for just over 1% of the world's energy production, but Vestas expects it to account for at least 10% by 2020.

As a result, Vestas said it would "invest heavily" in expanding the firm in order to meet the higher demand for "many years going forward".

As a result, it is planning to open new factories and expand existing plants in its major markets of the US, China and Europe, where governments have committed to an increased use of wind energy.

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