Wind gets stronger

A new report launched by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) predicts that despite temporary supply chain difficulties, international wind markets are set to continue their growth.

In 2006, total installed capacity increased by 25% globally, generating some €18bn worth of new generating equipment and bringing global wind power capacity up to more than 74GW.

While the EU is still the leading market in wind energy with over 48GW of installed capacity, other continents such as North America and Asia are developing at a tremendous pace.

‘Despite the strong growth we have witnessed in the past, we estimate that the biggest developments are still ahead,’ said Angelika Pullen, GWEC’s Policy & Communications Director. ‘Until the end of the current decade, the cumulative capacity of wind energy installations is predicted to reach 149.5GW, more than double the installed capacity at the end of 2006.’

The average annual cumulative growth rate during the period 2006-2010 will be 19.1%, compared with 24.3% in the period 2002-2006. The annual installed capacity is predicted to reach 21GW in 2010, an increase of 38% from the15.2GW installed in 2006.