Global newly installed wind power capacity by select country 2021

The United States added approximately 12.7 gigawatts of wind power capacity in 2021.The cumulative capacity of installed wind power worldwide surpassed 837 gigawatts in 2021.

Need for renewable energy

Some forty years ago, the major industrialized countries were rendered helpless in the face of a severe energy crisis, when Arab petroleum producers proclaimed an oil embargo and the Iranian energy industry was plunged into the chaos of revolution. Once more, politicians and the public in industrial countries were reminded of the finite and limited nature of fossil fuels. The lack of alternatives to oil, gas and coal energy lead to the development of renewable, sustainable energy technologies, including solar thermal and PV systems, hydroelectricity and wind power.

Rise of wind power

In terms of cumulative wind power capacity installations, the market used to be dominated by European economies. However, beginning in the mid-2000s, China emerged as the driving force behind global wind power capacity growth. In 2019, Asia’s economic power horse added a whopping 26.2 gigawatts of new wind power capacity, to reach cumulative capacity of almost 237 gigawatts. With a market share of 56 percent in 2020, China lead the ranking of the largest wind power countries worldwide, ahead of the United States, India and Spain. Chinese wind turbine manufacturers have also started to steal market shares from the leading players - including General Electric Energy, Siemens and Vestas. That said, Europe still accounts for about 73 percent of global cumulative offshore wind power capacity.