Wind Energy Blowing Strong Again

This increase represents 15 percent more than in the first half of 2010, when only 16,000 MW were added. Global wind energy capacity grew by 9.3 percent within six months and by 22.9 percent on an annual basis.

According to the report, five countries – China, the United States, Germany, Spain and India – continue to do the market and the demand for wind power. Together, those countries comprise 74 percent of the global world capacity. China continues to dominate the world market for wind power. In the first half of 2011, it added 8 MW of capacity while the United States added 2.3 MW.

Looking forward, the WWEA expects continued strong growth with new markets emerging in Venezuela, Honduras and Ethiopia. Additionally, the report spotlighted robust growth in Romania (10 percent, with 59 MW added), Poland with (22 percent, with 245 MW added), Croatia (28 percent, with 20 MW ) and Estonia (32 percent, with 48 MW).

In the second half of 2011, an additional capacity of 25,500 MW is expected to be erected worldwide, which would bring new annual installations to 43,900 MW, compared with 37,642 MW in 2010. Total installed wind capacity is projected to reach 240,500 MW by the end of this year. This capacity can cover almost 3 percent of the electricity demand all over the world.

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