Sinovel's contract implies it will turn out 10 gigawatts of windmill capacity--twice what is expected for all of China over the next few years, the Global Wind Energy Council says.

FORBES: A Little Too Electrifying

Yet, according to the database maintained by the Global Wind Energy Council, there was virtually no new capacity in wind in sub-Saharan Africa outside Cape Verde by the end of 2011.

FORBES: More On Africa's Power Problems And Possible Solutions

The world still needs energy, argues Steve Sawyer, the head of the Global Wind Energy Council, an industry group, and even if banks are slower to lend, utilities can often afford to pay for new generation out of their own revenues.

ECONOMIST: Clean technology in the downturn