More than 50 GW of installed wind capacity was added worldwide during 2014, according to a new report from the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA).
According to WWEA data, the yearly amount – which is 40% greater than that of 2013 – is significantly larger than the previous record in 2012, when 44.6 GW was installed.
Among the more notable findings, the WWEA data revealed the following:
- The top 12 countries alone installed 44.8 GW of new wind power plants, with half of them setting new national records;
- China added 23.3 GW, the largest amount a country has ever added within one year, reaching a total capacity of 115 GW;
- Germany has become the second-largest market for new turbines, adding 5.8 GW from onshore and offshore wind turbines;
- The U.S. market recovered from its previous slump and reached 4.9 GW;
- The newcomer of the year is Brazil with an additional capacity of 2.8 GW, the first time that a Latin American country has reached such a high figure;
- New national installation records were also achieved in Canada (1.9 GW) and Sweden (1 GW); and
- Denmark set a new world record by reaching a wind power share of 39% in the domestic power supply.
For the first time since 2009, the speed of growth was bigger than in the previous year: The global installed wind capacity grew by 16% compared with the year 2013, significantly higher than the previous 12.8%.
Wind power is now an undisputed pillar of the electricity supply in many parts of the world. The 370 GW of wind power installed worldwide can now contribute close to 5% of the global electricity demand. Several countries – such as Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, the U.K. and Germany – have now reached 10% or more of their power coming from wind, the association notes.
