Wind Power Capacity Up 170% Worldwide from 2005-2009

Posted on July 15, 2010  Comments (10)

graph of global installed wind power capacity from 2005-2009Chart showing global installed wind energy capacity by Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog, Creative Commons Attribution. Data from World Wind Energy Association, for installed Megawatts of global wind power capacity.

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Globally 38,025 MW of capacity were added in 2009, bringing the total to 159,213 MW, a 31% increase. The graph shows the top 10 producers (with the exceptions of Denmark and Portugal) and includes Japan (which is 13th).

Wind power is now generating 2% of global electricity demand, according to the World Wind Energy Association. The countries with the highest shares of wind energy generated electricity: Denmark 20%, Portugal 15%, Spain 14%, Germany 9%. Wind power employed 550,000 people in 2009 and is expected to employ 1,000,000 by 2012.

From 2005 to 2009 the global installed wind power capacity increased 170% from 59,033 megawatts to 159,213 megawatts. The percent of global capacity of the 9 countries in the graph has stayed remarkably consistent: from 81% in 2005 growing slowly to 83% in 2009.

Over the 4 year period the capacity in the USA increased 284% and in China increased 1,954%. China grew 113% in 2009, the 4th year in a row it more than doubled capacity. In 2007, Europe had for 61% of installed capacity and the USA 18%. At the end of 2009 Europe had 48% of installed capacity, Asia 25% and North America 24%.

Related: Wind Power Provided Over 1% of Global Electricity in 2007USA Wind Power Installed Capacity 1981 to 2005Wind Power has the Potential to Produce 20% of Electricity by 2030

10 Responses to “Wind Power Capacity Up 170% Worldwide from 2005-2009”

  1. Anonymous
    July 15th, 2010 @ 7:16 pm

    Isn’t this amazing that the world is embracing renewable energy so much?

    In my scrap metal business, we get alot of environmentalists coming in when they learn just how much less energy recycling takes that mining new ores.

    I love that energy companies are finally embracing harvesting free energy from the sun – the world is moving in the right direction

  2. Charles
    July 17th, 2010 @ 2:20 am

    Here in Las Vegas they have been talking about putting up a wind farm. Solar of course is also being looked at, since we get so much sun. Truly wind would be more practical since it is cheaper in the long run and will produce more power consistently. The valley typically has 20+ mile an hour winds at least part of the day.

  3. Anonymous
    July 18th, 2010 @ 7:34 am

    i think we should embrace alternative energy more in the us and steer towards green energy, in colorado, i see them installing a lot of wind turbines but i think we have a long way to go

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    August 18th, 2010 @ 2:52 pm

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  10. dasa
    July 31st, 2014 @ 4:47 pm

    Nice to see that wind energy is taking place.

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