Global wind power capacity will double by 2014
Chiefs on the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) have predicted that wind power will surpass 400GW of capacity by 2014.
Additionally, the industry body has said that the cost of offshore wind farms could drop by 25 per cent by 2025. By the end of this year, it is expected that installed wind power capacity across the world will reach 200GW.
In the latest projections published yesterday by the GWEC, it was revealed that 40GW of new capacity is being added in 2010, which will ensure that three per cent of globally energy capacity is now provided via wind power.
According to Steve Sawyer, secretary general for the global trade association, in spite of a fall in orders during the recession in the US last year, it was still expected that the wind power industry will double its capacity by 2014. He added that overall wind energy continues to be an emerging market and has weathered the economic downturn better than many analysts predicted.
Furthermore, Mr Sawyer added that the biggest growths have been seen in China and Europe, but said that South America and North Africa will also begin to play an increasingly vital role in the expansion of the sector.
Citing the increasing competition in wind power, he said that half of the growth in wind energy was being seen from developing countries in Latin America including Brazil, Chile and Mexico.
PDF 
