According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), the
world’s installed wind power capacity should reach close to 200 GW by the
end of this year.
Around 40 GW of new capacity has been added this year alone, making it a banner
year for wind
power on the global stage. While the US market is expected to be a little
down due to the lingering effects of the global financial crisis, stronger
growth in China will compensate and the European market remains rock-solid.
GWEC forecasts that global wind power will double between now and 2014, reaching
in excess of 400 GW and primarily driven by growth in China, the US and Europe.
However, new countries are also entering the wind energy club, with what the
GWEC says are very encouraging signs from countries in Latin America; including
Brazil, Mexico and Chile, as well as Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Over the longer term, an outlook for global wind power growth will be presented
by GWEC in October during the China Wind Power 2010 conference. The "Global
Wind Energy Outlook 2010" report will show that 1,000 GW of installed
capacity could potentially be operating world-wide by 2020, and as much as 2,300
GW by 2030.
The GWEC is a representative
forum for the wind energy sector at the international level. Its mission
is to ensure that wind power establishes itself as one of the world's leading
energy sources, providing substantial environmental and economic benefits.