China takes control of global wind power market

The wind is definitely blowing China’s way in the global wind energy industry.

China in 2011 took control of 20% of the world’s total wind power market, the largest national share in the world. The market rose to 41 gigawatts last year, an increase of 6%.

The Global Wind Energy Council based in Belgium said China installed 18 gW of wind turbines in 2011. Next in line was the U.S. with 6.8 gW and India with 3 gW. Germany, the U.K., Canada and Spain followed. Wind power capacity now totals 238 gW worldwide.

Leading Chinese wind energy companies such as Sinovel Wind Group Co. and Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. took market share outside China as European wind power firms languished after governments drastically cut renewable energy subsidies.

“Despite the state of the global economy, wind power continues to be the renewable generation technology of choice,” GWEC Secretary-General Steve Sawyer.

He expected 2012 to be another tough year but said the long-term industry fundamentals remain very sound.

He said GWEC looks forward to more new markets opening up in Africa, Asia and Latin America beyond Brazil in 2012 to approach critical mass.

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