Continued leadership
A remarkable 2018, where both Vestas and the industry reached new milestones, has come to an end and we have entered a new year that could set the industry’s direction
for the future. While Vestas continued to lead the industry on key parameters such as sales, profitability, and technology, the industry continued its transition towards more complex and market-based mechanisms. In the coming years, we must build on these achievements and adapt to the new reality in order to realise our vision as the Global Leader in Sustainable Energy Solutions and help create a world powered by sustainable energy.
Together with our customers and partners, we are leading the way in transforming renewable energy into mainstream energy, hereby removing hundreds of millions of tonnes of CO2 from our atmosphere, and helping the world meet its growing energy needs sustainably.
The 100 GW milestone
2018, was a year of many highlights. We broke our order record again; we entered into new markets; we introduced new technology solutions; expanded our footprint and ramped up manufacturing; and we took a leap within digitalisation with the acquisition of Utopus Insights. To us, the biggest highlight in 2018, which we are very proud of, was that we became the first company to install 100 GW of wind turbines when we completed the 250 MW Arbor Hill project in the USA for MidAmerican Energy Company.
Vestas pioneered wind energy 40 years ago and to install 101 GW in around 80 countries across six continents is something we should be proud of. The 100 GW has been
made possible through our relentless commitment to design and deliver wind energy solutions all over the world. A commitment that everyone in Vestas has shown throughout the years. A well-deserved congratulation to everyone, past and present, who has helped Vestas reach this important milestone.
Looking ahead
Today, wind energy has manifested itself as the cheapest source of electricity in many markets, which through increased efficiency has helped wind and solar energy reach 1,000 GW of installed capacity by 2018. This highlights the tremendous progress the industry has made in the last 40 years, but also why it is more important than ever that we
continue to lead the industry.
With more than 100 GW of installed wind turbines, Vestas has installed around 20 percent of all wind capacity in the world, but with the next 1,000 GW of wind and solar energy expected to be installed by 2023, we need to remain focused on executing our commitments and priorities in the short term. By doing so, we sustain and strengthen the foundation that enables us to develop the sustainable energy solutions our customers and stakeholders need in the future.
From this foundation, we can strengthen our core within wind energy products, services, and solutions that combine wind with other renewable technologies; build on our industry-leading wind and weather data to introduce new digital solutions; leverage our unique global reach, scope and size to enter and win new growth markets; as well as understand and work with new and existing customers to deliver best-in-class sustainable energy solutions.
The 100 GW milestone proves that we have the innovative spirit, the persistence, the boldness and the aspiration to solve big challenges, enabling us to be the global leader in sustainable energy today and in the future.
Shareholder value is a top priority
Our financial performance in 2018, allowed us to continue returning value to our shareholders, as demonstrated by our dividend pay-out and completion of two share buy-back programmes. The ambition is to continue to provide value to our shareholders by balancing our capital resources for investments into innovating and industry leading sustainable energy solutions and as well returning excess cash through a combination of dividends and share buy-back programmes.
On that note, we want to thank all our stakeholders for your hard work and support in 2018, and we look forward to continuing our journey together.
Bert Nordberg, Chairman of the Board of Directors
Anders Erik Runevad, Group President & CEO
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