According to figures released by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), 2005 saw the installation of a record 11,769 MW of new wind power, up from 8,207 MW in 2004. The total value of new generating equipment installed was over ?12 billion, or US$14 billion. Cumulative installed wind power capacity now stands at 59,322 MW worldwide, a 25% growth over what was in place a year earlier.
“The overall picture confirms that the right political framework is crucial to sustain the growth of wind power around the world and to open new markets. Some 48 governments have already introduced laws and regulations to support the development of renewable energies, but this effort needs to be increased if the benefits of wind energy are to be reaped around the world,” said GWEC Chairman Arthouros Zervos.
The countries with the highest total installed capacity are Germany (18,428 MW), Spain (10,027 MW), the U.S. (9,149 MW), India (4,430 MW) and Denmark (3,122). India has overtaken Denmark as the fourth largest wind market in the world. A number of other countries, including Italy, the U.K., the Netherlands, China, Japan, and Portugal now have over 1,000 MW of installed wind power capacity.
In terms of new installed capacity in 2005, the U.S. was clearly the leader with 2,431 MW, followed by Germany (1,808 MW), Spain (1,764 MW), India (1,430 MW), Portugal (500 MW) and China (498 MW). The appearance of Portugal and China, new players among the list of world leaders, clearly indicates that wind is gaining ground in those countries.
Europe is still leading the market with over 40,500 MW of installed capacity at the end of 2005, or 69% of the global total. In 2005, European wind capacity grew by 18%, and now provides nearly 3% of the European Union’s electricity consumption in an average wind year.
The European market has already, five years ahead of schedule, reached the 2010 target of 40,000 MW set by the European Commission. Nearly a quarter of new capacity was installed in North America, where the total capacity increased by 37% in 2005, gaining momentum in both the U.S. and Canada. Canadian wind capacity increased by a staggering 53% (see American, European, and Canadian market details in Wind Energy Weeklies ##1176, 1177, and 1178, respectively).
Asia has also experienced strong growth of over 49% of installed capacity, bringing the continent up to a total of over 7,135 MW. In 2005, Asia accounted for 20% of installations in the world. The strongest Asian market remains India with over 1,430 MW of new installed capacity, boosting its cumulative total to 4,430 MW.
The Chinese market got a lift in anticipation of the country’s new Renewable Energy Law, which entered into force on the first of January. As a result, nearly 500 MW of new capacity was installed in 2005, more than double the 2004 figure. China now has a total of 1,260 MW of wind power capacity installed. “Thanks to the Renewable Energy law, the Chinese market has grown substantially in 2005. According to the list of approved projects and those under construction, 2,000 MW of wind capacity could be installed by the end of 2006. The goal for wind power in China by the end of 2010 is 5,000 MW,” said Li Junfeng of the Chinese Renewable Energy Industry Association (CREIA).
The Australian market nearly doubled in 2005 with 328 MW of new installed capacity, bringing the total up to 708 MW. “The 2007 implementation of a state based market mechanism and a commitment by state governments to establish an emissions trading scheme will provide financial incentives to continue this growth,” said Dominique Lafontaine, CEO of AusWind.
The African market saw a steady continuation of its growth, with an installation figure double that of 2004. The main countries experiencing growth are Egypt (230 MW) and Morocco (64 MW).
“Wind energy offers more than just power: it has the potential to support economic development, improve the security of energy supply, mitigate hydrocarbon price volatility, create jobs, and contribute to substantial carbon emissions reductions. Without political support, however, wind energy remains at a competitive disadvantage due to distortions in the world’s electricity markets created by decades of massive financial, political, and structural support to conventional technologies,” said Zervos.
Charts and graphs with more detailed information is available in the full report at the GWEC website.
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