The global wind market grew by 94GW in 2021 according to new data from the Global Wind Energy Council. This brings installed capacity up to a total of 837GW, just 1.8% behind the level of growth seen in 2020. In the offshore wind sector China was responsible for 80% of all new installation bringing its installed capacity up to 27.7GW. GWEC called this an “astounding level of growth” noting that it took Europe 30 years to reach this level.

Forecasts show a further 557GW will be added over the next five years however GWEC warns that this needs to quadruple by 2030 if the world is to stay on the 1.5 degree pathway set out by IRENA in their 2050 roadmap.

“The wind industry continues to step up and deliver, but scaåling up growth to the level required to reach Net Zero and achieve energy security will require a new, more proactive approach to policy making around the world,” said Ben Backwell, CEO of GWEC. “The last 12 months should serve as a huge wake-up call that we need to move decisively forward and switch to 21st century energy systems based on renewables.”

Backwell added: “The events of the last year, which has seen economies and consumers exposed to extreme fossil fuel volatility and high prices around the world, are a symptom of a hesitant and disorderly energy transition, while Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has exposed the implications of dependency on fossil fuel imports for energy security. 

“The last 12 months should serve as a huge wake-up call that we need to move decisively forward and switch to 21st century energy systems based on renewables.”