The global wind energy capacity grew 28.8% in 2008 led by the US, the European Union and China to reach total global installations of more than 120.8 gigawatt.
Over 27,000 mw of new wind power generation capacity came online in 2008, which is 36% more than the capacity in 2007. The global wind market for turbine installations in 2008 was worth about $47.5 billion, said a Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) report.
?At the end of 2008, however, financing for new projects and new orders for turbines and components slowed to a trickle as the financial crisis began to hit the wind sector also,? the report added.
The report said, ?The US with a total of 25,170 mw surpassed Germany (23,902 mw) to take the lead position in wind power installations. With 12,200 mw wind power installations, China has overtaken India, for the fourth position, which had an installed 8748.7 mw by the end of March 31, 2008.?
China is all set to leave behind Germany and Spain to reach the second place, after the US in terms of total wind power capacity by 2010. It would then meet its 2020 target of 30,000 mw before 10 years, the GWEC report said.
GWEC?s chairman Arthouros Zervos said the wind industry also creates new jobs. Over 4,00,000 people are now employed in this industry and this number will be in millions in the near future.?
The leading markets in terms of new installed capacity in 2008 were the US and China.
In Asia the wind energy boom is continuing in China, which once again doubled its installed capacity by adding about 6300 mw, reaching a total of 12, 200 mw. ?The Chinese wind energy market is going from strength to strength and has once again doubled in size as compared to 2007, reaching over 12 gw of total installed capacity. The outlook for the coming years is also very healthy,? said Shi Pengfei vice-president of the Chinese Wind Energy Association (CWEA). In its response to the financial crisis, the Chinese government has identified the development of wind energy as one of the key economic growth areas.
?In 2009, new installed capacity is expected to nearly double again, which will be one third or more of the world?s total new installed capacity for the year,? said Li Junfeng, secretary general of the Chinese Renewable Energy Industry Association (CREIA).
The growing wind power market in China has also encouraged domestic production of wind turbines and components and the Chinese manufacturing industry is becoming increasingly mature, stretching over the whole supply chain. ?Now, the supply is starting to not only satisfy domestic demand, but also meet international needs, especially for components,? said Li Junfeng. ?In 2009, Chinese companies will start entering the UK and Japanese markets and orders for 200 blades have already been placed. There are also ambitions for exploring the US market in the coming years,? he added.
The new US wind energy installations totaled 8,358 mw. Europe and North America are running neck-and-neck, with about 8,900 mw each of new installed capacity in 2008, with Asia closely following with 8,600 mw. The massive growth in the US wind market in 2008 increased the nation?s total wind power generating capacity by 50%.
The new wind projects completed in 2008 account for about 42% of the entire new power-producing capacity added in the US last year, and created 35,000 new jobs, for a total of 85,000 employed in the sector in the US, the GWEC report said. In Europe, almost 8,900 mw of new wind turbines brought total wind power generation capacity up to nearly 66,000 mw. This makes wind power the leading power source for new generation capacity, according to the European Wind Energy Association.
