Global wind energy market gains momentum after a weak 2010

- 18.4 gigawatts (GW) newly installed in first half of 2011, 43.9 GW expected for the full year
- China remains the global wind locomotive with a share of 43%, adding 8 GW
- Worldwide wind capacity reached 215 GW in June

Bonn (WWEA) – The world market for wind energy saw a sound revival in the first half of 2011 and regained momentum after a weak year in 2010. Global wind power capacity reached 215,000 megawatts (MW) by the end of June this year, 18,405 MW of which were added in the ­first six months. This was 15% more than in the first half of 2010, when only 16,000 MW were added.

Global wind capacity grew by 9.3% within six months and by 22.9% year-to-year mid-2011 compared with mid-2010). The 2010 annual growth rate was 23.6%.

Top 10 wind markets: China, USA, Germany, Spain and India continue to lead

The five leading countries still account for the lion's share of the world capacity of wind turbines: China, USA, Germany, Spain and India, together representing a total share of 74% of the global wind power capacity.

Again in 2011, China continues to dominate the world wind market, adding 8 GW in only 6 months, its biggest increase ever within the first half year. Within those 6 months, China accounted for 43% of the world market for new wind turbines, compared with 50% in the full year of 2010. By June 2011, China had an overall installed capacity of around 52 GW.

Most of the European markets showed stronger growth in 2011 than in the previous year. The top markets in Europe continue to be Germany with a new capacity of 766 MW and reaching a total of 27,981 MW, Spain (484 MW, 21,150 MW), Italy (460 MW, 6,200 MW), France (400 MW, 6,060 MW), the United Kingdom (504 MW, 5,707 MW) and Portugal (260 MW, 3,960 MW). Only France and Denmark installed less new capacity than in the first half of 2010, Denmark even dropping out of the top 10 markets, replaced by Portugal as the new number 10.

The US market added 2,252 MW between January and June 2011, about 90% more than in the same, but very weak period of 2010. However, it is questionable whether the US market can regain the strength it had in 2009 when almost 10 GW was installed.

Relatively strong growth can be observed in Canada which installed 603 MW during the first half of 2011, with Ontario as the strongest province due to the ground-breaking Green Energy Act.

New wind markets arising

A number of new markets are arising around the world: During the first half of 2011 three countries started using wind energy, increasing the number from 83 to 86: Venezuela, Honduras and Ethiopia. Also the Dominican Republic installed its first major wind farm and increased its capacity from 0.2 MW to 60.2 MW.

In Europe the emerging Eastern European markets showed the highest growth from January to June 2011, e.g. Romania with 10% growth (59 MW added), Poland with 22% (245 MW added), Croatia with 28% (20 MW added) and Estonia with 32% (48 MW added).

A number of countries introduced new and ambitious legislation for wind power, including Ecuador, Japan, Malaysia and Uganda, which adopted feed-in tariff systems for the development of renewable energy.

Prospects for end of 2011: 240 GW of wind covering almost 3% of global electricity demand

In the second half of 2011 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. The total installed wind capacity is projected to reach 240,500 MW by the end of this year. That can cover almost 3% of global electricity demand.

Stefan Gsänger, WWEA Secretary General, commented: “Although the deployment of the wind power worldwide is again speeding up, we still see relatively moderate growth rates, compared with previous years. On the one hand, it is very encouraging that new countries are coming up. On the other hand, we need more support on the national as well as on the international level. We hope that especially the UN climate change conference in Durban will lead to better frameworks for wind energy mainly in developing countries. Amongst the industrialised countries, we expect that Japan will play an active and positive role in wind power in the foreseeable future and soon join the group of leading wind countries.”

For further information please contact: Stefan Gsänger, Secretary General, World Wind Energy Association

WWEA Head Office: Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. 5, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Tel. +49-228-369 40-80
Fax +49-228-369 40-84

secretariat@wwindea.org
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