The global wind power market rose 6 percent to 41 gigawatts last year, led by China, which captured more than two-fifths of the total, the Global Wind Energy Council said today in a report.
China installed 18 gigawatts of turbines in 2011, followed by the U.S. with 6.8 gigawatts and India’s 3 gigawatts. Germany, the U.K., Canada and Spain followed, according to the Brussels- based industry lobby group.
Growth in the market occurred as European governments cut subsidies to tighten budgets and heightened competition among manufacturers as Chinese companies such as Sinovel Wind Group Co. and Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. grabbed market share outside China. Their national wind energy total is 62.73 GW, a world-leading 26.4% of all our wind power.
Wind power capacity now totals 238 gigawatts worldwide. The 6.8 gigawatts installed in the U.S for a total of 46.92 GW and 19.7% of the global market.
The U.S. wind industry faces losing government support as U.S. lawmakers have to date failed to extend a tax credit for wind power that expires at the end of this year. In Spain, another top 10 market, the government last month halted subsidies on renewables. Even so, the industry is expanding into new markets
India came in third for new installations, with 3.019 GW, but ranks fifth for total capacity (16.084 GW, 6.7% of the world’s wind power). Rounding out the top ten nations for new wind power installations in 2011: Germany (2.1 GW), UK (1.3 GW), Canada (1.3 GW), Spain (1.1 GW), Italy (1 GW), France (0.83 GW), Sweden (0.76 GW). All other nations in the world combined installed 5.2 GW last year.
Brazilian installations rose by half last year, increasing the country’s total to more than 1,500 megawatts, GWEC said. Canada had a record year, with 1,267 megawatts of turbines erected. Honduras and the Dominican Republic put up their first wind farms while in the African island-nation of Cape Verde, the installed base rose 12-fold to 24 megawatts.
– source businessweek.com