Wind Energy

Wind energy close to 195,000 MW at the end of 2010

Wind turbines capacity installed worldwide increased by nearly 35,800 MW in 2010. This 22.5% increase -compared to the 158.7 MW that were online in late 2009 – was achieved by means of a $65 billion (47.3 billion euro) investment.

The total wind farm capacity has thus reached 194,400 MW.

The data is found in the annual report by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), which points out the fact that, despite the significant growth in 2010, for the first time there has been a setback compared to the growth rate of the past 20 years. Indeed, the +22.5% registered in 2010 is 7% lower than the growth that the wind industry achieved in 2009 compared to 2008.

Also for the first time, more than half the systems were installed outside the traditional European and North American wind power markets. Specifically in Asia, where China alone, with 16,500 MW developed in 2010, accounted for about 46% of the overall result.

Important achievements were also registered in a number of emerging countries such as India (2,100 MW installed in 2010), Brazil (326 MW) and Mexico (316 MW), while a number of African countries (Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia) have launched significant projects.

www.gwec.net/fileadmin/documents/Publications/GWEC_PRstats_02-02-2011_final.pdf

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