Subscribe to Newsletter
  • ACQUIRE

logo

  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Resources
  • Trending
  • Business Insight
  • Events
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Home
  • Home
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Resources
  • Trending
  • Business Insight
  • Events
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Global wind power installations hit record levels in 2020

30 Mar, 2021



114 gigawatts (GW) of new wind capacity was added globally in 2020, representing an 82 per cent increase year-over-year (YoY), according to new research from global energy research and consultancy group, Wood Mackenzie. This is the highest global annual installation total on record.

China’s National Energy Administration reported 72 GW of installed capacity in 2020, which alone would have qualified as the most capacity added globally in a single year, Wood Mackenzie outlines.

This total includes partially completed projects, as developers claimed full capacity to capitalise on the onshore wind subsidy before it expired at the end of last year.

As noted in the Wood Mackenzie report, the rest of the world – excluding China – added nearly 43 GW in 2020, a 15 per cent increase YoY.

Significant contributions came from the U.S. (+6,565 MW YoY), Brazil (+1,055 MW YoY), the Netherlands (+1,878 MW YoY), and Australia (+1,363 MW YoY).

Wood Mackenzie Research Director, Luke Lewandowski, said the global wind power industry will add nearly 1 terawatts (TW) of new capacity from 2021 to 2030, underscoring the important role wind technologies will play in the energy transition.

“China’s 1,200 GW target of wind and solar by 2030 will result in 408 GW of new wind capacity from 2021 to 2030, representing 41 per cent of global build. Offshore capacity in the country will grow by 73 GW during this period, an 800 per cent increase in installed capacity in this sector,” Mr Lewandowski said.

The rest of Asia Pacific will add 126 GW throughout Wood Mackenzie’s 10-year outlook, with India accounting for half of that. Annual GW-scale offshore capacity additions in the region began this year, driven largely by Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Mr Lewandowski added that another key region that will spur wind power growth through 2030 is Europe.

“The EU’s decarbonisation plan will motivate 248 GW of new wind capacity over our 10-year outlook. Additionally, 66 per cent of this capacity will be onshore due to larger turbine models unlocking space-constrained markets, the repowering of an aging fleet, and increased development in Eastern Europe,” he shared.

A late 2020 extension of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) in the U.S. has strengthened near-term expectations of 35 GW of new capacity from 2021 to 2023.

From 2024 through 2030, new offshore capacity in the country is expected to average 4.5 GW per year and will comprise 40 per cent of annual wind turbine build.

Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico will account for 90 per cent of a record 16 GW of new capacity expected in Latin America between 2021 and 2023. This will be driven by an increase in commercial and industrial demand, coal retirements, and auctions.

Related Articles

Australia Wind Energy 2025

Floating Wind - Europe

Floating Wind – Europe

The 5th Australian Offshore Wind Conference

The 5th Australian Offshore Wind Conference

Connecting Green Hydrogen MENA 2024

Comments

Leave a comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Breaking

  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Resources
19 Jun

TotalEnergies acquires major UK renewable portfolio

17 Jun

Renewables surge, with solar and wind dominating

17 Jun

UNSW engineers accelerate green tech commercialisation

09 Jun

AEMO’s distribution focus enables community participation

06 Jun

Report shows 20 million gained energy access in 2024

18 Jun

McNab wins Queensland Sustainability Award 2025

18 Jun

Investa signs six-year renewable energy agreement

12 Jun

Cumberland celebrates planting its 1,000th tree

10 Jun

Stantec helps New Epping achieve sustainability excellence

09 Jun

RMIT engineers transform low-grade clay into cement

09 Jun

Australia’s hydrogen certification framework faces scrutiny

09 Jun

Biofuel demand outpaces supply, risking shortages

28 May

Major contract awarded for methanol facility in UAE

27 May

Archaeologist accuses WA government of North West Shelf cover-up

13 May

Queensland resources sector drives energy transition

  • BATTERY ASSET MANAGEMENT SUMMIT

Online Magazine

    Current Cover
  • Login
  • Subscribe

Subscribe

Subscribe to Newsletter

Our Titles

  • Share on Newsletter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
© Sage Media Group 2025 All Rights Reserved.
×
Authorization
  • Registration
 This feature has been disabled
 This feature has been disabled until further notice, however you may still register
×
Registration
  • Autorization
Register
* All fields required