Global wind energy capacity could increase by more than half over the next five years, as costs continue to fall and the market returns to growth at the end of this decade, according to Global Wind Energy Council’s (GWEC) Global Wind Report: Annual Market Update report.
The cumulative wind energy capacity totaled 539 gigawatts at the end of last year, 11 percent higher than the previous year, which is expected to increase by 56 percent to 840 GW by the end of 2022 as countries develop more renewable energy to meet emissions cut targets and prices continue to fall.
China maintained its top position, installing 19.7 GW, while the European Union added 15.6 GW of capacity, its best year. The United States installed approximately 7 GW of capacity.
The world has invested $2.9 trillion in green energy sources since 2004.
