Although global wind capacity reached 296.25 GW by the end of June, only 13.98 GW were added worldwide in the first six months of the year, according to a new report from the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA). The group says this increase is much less than in the first half of 2012 and 2011, when 16.5 GW and 18.4 GW were added, respectively.
The report estimates that global wind capacity grew by 5% in the first half (after 7% in the same period in 2012 and 9% in 2011) and by 16.6 % on an annual basis (mid-2013 compared with mid-2012). In comparison, the annual growth rate in 2012 was significantly higher (19%).
The report notes China has reached a total capacity of 80 GW, but WWEA attributes the global decrease to the dramatic slump in the U.S., which was partly compensated by new markets.
"The year 2013 is a difficult year for the wind industry worldwide, as the companies have to struggle with a decreasing market size," comments WWEA President He Dexin, later adding, "Though we face some challenges currently, we are still confident [about] wind power development in the future."
