The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reports that the U.S. wind industry is on track to install over 3,000 MW of generating capacity nationwide this year.
Texas could account for about two thirds of the new installations, AWEA says. In the first quarter, over 100 MW have come online and over 1,000 more are under construction in Texas alone.
The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) reports that total world wind capacity grew 25% in 2006, generating some $23 billion worth of new generating equipment and bringing global wind power capacity up to more than 74 GW.
“Despite the strong growth we have witnessed in the past, we estimate that the biggest developments are still ahead,” says Angelika Pullen, GWEC’s policy and communications director. “Until the end of the current decade, the cumulative capacity of wind energy installations is predicted to reach 149.5 GW, more than double the installed capacity at the end of 2006.”
The North American market is expected to continue as the second largest regional market in terms of total installed capacity with an average annual growth rate of 24.6%. From 9.8 GW installed at the end of 2006, GWEC estimates the market will reach 31.6 GW by the end of 2010. The U.S. market will be the most important national market in the world during the period 2007-2010, with a predicted average installation of 3.5 GW per year.
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