Worldwide Capacity at 93,8 GW – 19,7 GW added in 2007

Wind energy is used in more than 70 countries – USA, Spain and China take the worldwide lead

Full  pdf version of  press release can be downloaded here 526.72 Kb, Russian here 463.99 Kb

Bonn/Toronto (WWEA) – In the year 2007, 19.696 MW of new wind energy capacity were added summing up to a global installed capacity of 93.849 MW by the end of December 2007. The added capacity equals a growth rate of 26,6 %, after 25,6 % in 2006. The currently installed wind power capacity generates 200 TWh per year, equalling 1,3 % of the global electricity consumption – in some countries and regions, wind energy already contributes 40 % and more. The wind industry employs today 350.000 people worldwide, after 300.000 employees in the year 2006.

Based on the accelerated development, WWEA has increased its prediction for 2010 and expects now 170.000 MW to be installed by the end of the year 2010. However, in the majority of the top 40 wind markets the increase in the deployment of wind energy slowed down in the year 2007.

Dr Anil Kane, President of the World Wind Energy Association: “The year 2007, all in all, was a very successful year for the wind industry worldwide. However, there are several developments that make us feel concerned: 20 out of the top 40 markets have decreased the volume of additional capacity and only 18 countries have been able to increase their size. Another concern is that most of the developing countries are far behind the development of the leading wind energy countries. With today the emerging countries India and China amongst the top five wind markets, there should be sufficient motivation for the governments as well as for international donor organisations to launch effective and substantial international deployment programmes. We need a stronger support for investment in renewable energies like wind especially in the developing countries in order to ensure a truly sustainable development.”

Compared with the year 2006 when 15.120 MW were added, the year 2007 brought another new record in new installations. Mainly the booming wind markets in the USA (5.216 MW of new capacity), Spain (3.515 MW) and China (3.313 MW) contributed to this record. China with a growth rate of 127,5 % showed the greatest performance of the top five wind countries. Germany defended clearly its position as number one country in terms of overall capacity with 22.274 MW installed. With additional capacity of 1.625 MW, Germany as well as India (1.580 MW added) kept their positions as leading markets, however, both countries clearly decreased in new installations. Only two countries (after five in the year 2006) added between 500 MW and 1.000 MW and showed strong growth rates: France (888 MW, 56,7 % growth) and Italy (603 MW, 28,4 %). The most dynamic market in 2007 was Turkey adding 142 MW up to a total of 207 MW which equals a growth rate of more than 200 %.

The market for new wind turbines reached an overall size of 19.696 MW, after 15.120 MW in the year 2006 (30 % increase). In the last ten years, between the years 1998 and 2007, even an almost tenfold increase can be watched.