The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) released figures on the growth of the global wind indusry, finding it increased installed generating capacity by 20% in 2004.
The industry installed 7,976 megawatts (MW) in 2004 to a world total of 47,317 MW.
The countries with the highest total installed wind power capacity are Germany (16,629 MW), Spain (8,263 MW), the United States (6,740 MW), Denmark (3,117 MW) and India (3,000 MW). The top five countries account for over 67% of 2004 installation and nearly 80% of total wind energy installation worldwide. A number of countries, including Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, and the UK, are above or near the 1,000-MW mark.
Europe continued to dominate the global market in 2004, accounting for 72.4% of new installations (5,774 MW). Asia had a 15.9% installation share (1,269 MW), followed by North America (6.4%; 512 MW) and the Pacific Region (4.1%; 325 MW). Latin America + the Caribbean (49 MW) and Africa (47 MW) had a 0.6% market share respectively.
"Europe is the global leader in wind energy, but we are witnessing the globalisation of the wind energy markets. In Europe, the market has experienced average annual growth rates of 22% over the past six years; however, the further rapid progress that the industry is capable of delivering is constrained by barriers such as grid access and administrative hurdles", said EWEA President Arthouros Zervos. "Renewed political initiatives by the G8 could boost wind power; the industry is well positioned and ready for a more rapid roll out given the right political signals".
Growth in the U.S. market was predictably slow because of the long delay in extending the federal production tax credit (PTC) for wind energy, which had expired in December 2003 and was extended in October 2004. Proposed projects are now back on the fast track and AWEA expects that over 2,000 MW will be installed nationwide during 2005. Uncertainty continues to loom over the U.S. market, however, since the PTC will expire again in December 2005 unless Congress moves quickly to extend the incentive. The US wind energy industry is calling for a long-term extension so that companies can plan for steadier, stronger growth over the coming years.
Wind capacity in Australia almost doubled in the last 12 months with 380 MW of wind energy capacity installed at the close of 2004. Said Ian Lloyd-Besson, President of AusWEA, "Besides being clean and green, wind energy brings investment, drought-proof farming income and jobs to rural communities. Australia has some of the most powerful and abundant untapped wind resource on the planet and a grid capacity that can potentially accommodate up to 8,000 MW of wind energy with minor adjustments. Even if we were to develop just half of this, the regional wind jobs and export opportunities would be enormous."
"China’s anticipated entry into the global renewable energy market is expected to have a profound impact on the global industry. We have spent a lot of time and energy learning from the successes and failures of our partners in Europe and around the world", said Li Junfeng, Secretary General, CREIA, Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association.
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