China, US lead world in new wind power capacity

Together account for 58% of total.

The world’s total installed wind power capacity in 2012 jumped almost 20% to 282 gigawatts. Of the 45GW produced by new wind turbines in 2012, China and the US led the way with 13GW each. Germany, India and the UK were next with some 2GW apiece.

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) said Asia still led global markets, but with North America a close second, and Europe not far behind.

China leads the world in installed wind power with 77 GW. The US with its 60 GW is second; Germany, third (31 GW) and Spain, fourth (23GW).

The UK, however, is by far the world leader in offshore wind deployment, installing 0.85 megawatts in 2012 to bring the total so far to 3GW. Denmark has a total of 0.9GW installed; Belgium is ranked third with 0.4GW.

GWEC said market consolidation led to the relative slowdown in China, while a lapse in policy caused a similar slowdown in India, but expected Asian dominance of global wind markets to continue.

GWEC said the outlook for 2013 in Europe was uncertain due to the Eurozone debt crisis. It noted, however, that the EU’s legal commitments and 2020 targets for renewable energy ensured a degree of stability.

There is very little wind power installed in Africa, but sub-Saharan Africa’s first large commercial wind farm came on line in 2012, a 52MW project in Ethiopia.