Readers of this blog may well be aware of my scepticism towards European wind turbine manufacturers succeeding outside of the cossetted European market.

So that's why it's fascinating to read that Vestas, the Danish world no. 1 turbine manufacturer is to invest 500 m singaporean dollars (that's about $315 m USD) over 10 years in an R&D; centre in the world's most successful (albeit not democratic) city state, Singapore.

I think the story here is that they are not looking to get into the Singaporean market. Singapore sees itself as Asia's R&D; capital. It is the massive potential of China and India that they can only tap into with a local presence.

I expect more European firms will reach these conclusions very soon. Right now, there are too many wind firms chasing not enough contracts on the old continent.

Asia is the most promising market of them all.