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New Market Report Says China Leads Growth in Wind Power

Nearly 20 GW of wind power capacity was installed in 2007, the highest volume achieved in a single year and 32% more than built in 2006. The net increase takes the world total to over 94 GW. Only five years ago, wind power generating capacity was only one-third of that total at just over 31 GW, making the compound annual growth rate between then and now a drop below 25%, according to a new wind power market study by WindPower Monthly.

The rising star of the wind power world is China, which had the highest growth rate among the world’s top ten markets. China accounted for about 90% of the new installations last year. Provisionally, China reports 3450 MW of new wind power capacity brought online in 2007, representing an eyebrow-raising 130% improvement on its performance in 2006. But in terms of total megawatts installed, it was the United States that came top for the second year running, bringing over 5350 MW online in 2007, more than twice that achieved in 2006 and notching up a 45% increase in its cumulative wind power capacity. Spain followed with 3500 MW, up 30%.

After the top three came India and Germany, each with around 1600 MW, though Germany had a nose in front. It still leads the world in total wind capacity, with over 22,000 MW, but that position is likely to be usurped by the United States, if not this year then next. Other strong performances came from France, up 900 MW, or 61%, Italy, up 600 MW, or 28%, the UK, up nearly 500 MW, or 24%, and Portugal, up 400 MW, or 25%. With strong growth in North America and Asia, Europe’s share of global wind capacity fell from about 66% to 61%, continuing a trend.

European capacity increased by 8600 MW, 1000 MW more than last year, to over 57,000 MW. The entire Asia region (minus Japan) jumped by 5000 MW, or 57%, and now contributes more than 14,000 MW. Offshore wind capacity, all in Europe, has increased to around 1140 MW since the start of this year with Sweden and the Netherlands officially bringing 230 MW online in two big projects that were unofficially feeding into the grid before the turn of the year.

Windpower Monthly News Magazine: Focus this month