RENEWABLES 2024
GLOBAL STATUS REPORT

Renewables in Energy Supply

2024

Wind Power

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Key Facts
Wind Power

  • A record 117 GW of wind power capacity was added to the world's grids in 2023, increasing the total in operation more than 12.8% to an estimated 1,021 GW.

  • The top markets for newly installed grid-connected capacity in 2023 were China, followed distantly by the United States, Brazil, Germany and India.

  • Despite the cost-competitiveness of wind energy and ambitious targets in countries around the world, numerous obstacles continued to impede the wind industry.

  • The industry continued to innovate, particularly in the offshore sector.

  • The European Union took steps to accelerate installations and strengthen the competitiveness of the region's turbine manufacturing industry.

Wind power had a record year in 2023 with around 117 GW of capacity (106.1 GW onshore, 10.9 GW offshore) added to the world's grids; this increased the total capacity in operation more than 12.8% to surpass the 1 terawatt mark (1,021 GW) i . 1 (See Figure 33.) Annual additions rose more than 50% over 2022, with markets up in all regions except North America and Europe. 2 Outside of China, however, installations rose only 3.4%; China dominated the global market, accounting for nearly two-thirds of total additions. 3 Record highs also were set for turbine orders and for investment in offshore projects. 4

Several countries – including at least eight countries in Europe plus Uruguay – generated at least one-quarter of their electricity with wind in 2023. 5 Wind power continued to advance in new countries: Djibouti, Mauritania and the United Arab Emirates all installed their first (commercial-scale) projects. 6

The top policy mechanisms supporting installations remained “grid parity” in China, tax credits in the United States, and auctions elsewhere, with feed-in tariffs (FITs) also playing a role. 7 In addition to an agreement by more than 130 countries to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030, countries around the world increased wind power targets, driven by climate change, energy security and economic growth goals, as well as the cost-competitiveness ii of wind energy. 8 Private sector power purchase agreements (PPAs) also continued to drive demand for new capacity in several countries. 9

Despite the competitiveness of wind energy and ambitious targets, numerous obstacles continued to affect installations, the health of the wind industry and its ability to scale production to meet future demand. 10 These included ongoing subsidies for fossil fuels, which increased following the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine, and market frameworks that reward investment in fossil fuels. 11 The stop-start nature of many government auctions, a focus on price as the only determining factor, and failure to adapt bidding prices to the new macroeconomic environment in many cases have led to thin or negative margins for the wind industry. 12 Delayed permitting for new projects (due in part to local opposition, as well as cumbersome permitting processes) also has constrained deployment, as have protracted, complex and expensive grid planning and long grid-connection queues. 13 Such factors increase the variability of demand, inhibiting investment in supply chains and installations. 14

For western companies, supply chain pressures, high commodity prices and shipping rates, as well as inflation further pushed up turbine prices and project costs iii . 15 These challenges were compounded in 2023 by higher interest rates, long a barrier to renewables in low-income countries. 16 Because most investment occurs up front, higher borrowing costs put a brake on new wind power installations in Europe and the United States. 17

Challenges were felt particularly in the offshore sector, where the supply chain is strongly concentrated, and where building turbines and related infrastructure far from shore requires significant time and money. 18 Stuck with supply contracts at prices that no longer covered their costs, developers cancelled contracts or projects for several gigawatts of capacity in US and European waters; in Asia, surging costs led Japanese developers to withdraw from projects in Taiwan. 19

Developers' struggles, in turn, affected turbine manufacturers. 20 Even so, western manufacturers saw improvements in 2023, with GE Vernova (United States) and Siemens Gamesa (Germany) narrowing their losses, Nordex (Germany) breaking even, and Vestas (Denmark) returning to profitability thanks to record orders, higher turbine pricing and growth in the service sector. 21

In China, by contrast, turbine prices reached new lows in 2023, despite record orders, due to the fiercely competitive domestic environment. 22 The country has developed a complete wind power supply chain to reduce costs and enable scaling of turbines, and thus is less affected by bottlenecks than other regions. 23 China's offshore industry has driven down wind power prices to match coal, even as prices in Europe and North America have risen. 24 However, the impact on China's largest turbine manufacturers has been shrinking profits: Goldwind,for example, saw profits fall 98% in the first nine months of 2023. 25

FIGURE 33.Wind Power Global Capacity and Annual Additions, 2014-2023

FIGURE 33.

Note: Capacity is rounded to nearest GW and totals may not add up due to rounding. Data reflect grid-connected capacity, and additions are gross.

Source: See endnote 1 for this section.

Numerous obstacles continued to impede investments in supply chains and installations.

The industry notes that political ambition alone is insufficient to ramp up supply chain investment in order to build production facilities and grid and other necessary infrastructure, and to develop the workforce and advance innovation as required to deliver on global wind energy goals. 26 Governments have begun recognising the challenges and taking actions to speed permitting, provide grid access and keep investment flowing. 27 To address rising opposition, often due to mis- or dis-information as well as to valid local concerns, an increasing number of jurisdictions has enacted laws requiring wind farm investors to engage local communities iv . 28

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Top Markets

New wind farms reached full commercial operation in at least 55 countries in 2023 (up from 45 in 2022). 29 For the 16th consecutive year, Asia was the largest regional market, representing nearly 70.3% of new grid-connected capacity (up from 55% in 2022). 30 Most of the remaining installations were in Europe (15.2%), North America (7.3%, down nearly 5 percentage points) and Latin America and the Caribbean (5.4%) v . 31 The top five countries – China, the United States, Brazil, Germany and India – together accounted for more than 80% of annual installations. 32 Rounding out the top 10 vi for additions were the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Canada and the United Kingdom. 33 (See Figure 34.) The list of the 10 vii leading countries for cumulative capacity remained the same as in 2022. 34

Two years after completing a shift from a national FIT to “grid parity” viii , China's annual grid-tied installations doubled in 2023 to exceed 75.6 GW ix (69.3 MW onshore, 6.3 MW offshore). 35 China alone accounted for 65% of the global wind power market, up from 48.5% in 2022. 36 China's strong growth was thanks in part to the end of pandemic-era restrictions and a push to add renewables in deserts and interior regions.37 The world's largest land-based wind farm (3 GW) began operating in Inner Mongolia. 38

At year's end, China's total grid-connected wind power capacity was nearly 441.1 GW (403.3 GW onshore, 37.8 GW offshore), easily surpassing a government target of 430 GW set in late 2022. 39 Wind generation accounted for 9.5% of Chinese electricity production by the end of 2023 (up from 8.8% for all of 2022). 40

FIGURE 34.Wind Power Capacity and Additions, Top 10 Countries and Rest of World, 2023

FIGURE 34.

Note: Data reflect grid-connected capacity only. Numbers above bars are gross additions, but bar heights reflect year-end totals. Net additions were lower for the United States (6.6 GW), Germany (3.4 GW) and France (1.5 GW) due to decommissioning. Totals may not add up due to rounding.

Source: See endnote 33 for this section.

China continued to dominate wind turbine manufacturing as well as the world's supply chain for critical components and raw materials. 41 Across the global supply chain (mining to transport to installation), China held 64% of the total value generated as of 2023. 42 Although most Chinese-made turbines (97%) were installed domestically in 2023, fierce competition at home has pushed manufacturers to turn elsewhere, and the competitive pricing and technological improvements of Chinese turbines have attracted increasing international interest x . 43 Ten of the world's top 15 turbine producers were based in China, with Goldwind and Envision placing first and second globally; the remaining five were Vestas, which ranked third, followed by Siemens Gamesa, GE, Nordex and Enercon (Germany). 44

The United States continued to rank second for wind power additions and cumulative capacity, adding 6.9 GW (6.6 GW net xi ) for a total of 150.9 GW (almost all onshore). 45 However, US installations fell more than 25%, to their lowest level since 2014 and well below the 2020 peak of 16.9 GW. 46 The slower pace in 2023 was due to several factors, including inflation, higher borrowing costs, supply chain challenges, policy uncertainty, market saturation in some areas, long waits in interconnection queues xii and permitting delays. 47 Rising local opposition to renewable projects, including bans and moratoria, also slowed deployment. 48

US wind power generation also declined in 2023 (from almost 10.3% in 2022 to just below 10.2%) for the first time since the 1990s, due to slower-than-normal wind speeds xiii . 49 Despite the lower share nationally, wind energy was the largest source of electricity in 4 US states and accounted for more than 20% of generation in 12 states. 50

At year's end, US capacity under construction approached 17.6 GW (mostly onshore), and capacity in advanced development neared 28.7 GW (64% offshore). 51 A surge in turbine orders during the year provided a sign that the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) could accelerate installations. 52

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For the fourth consecutive year, Brazil ranked third for new capacity. Wind represented almost 48% of the country's new power capacity, with record installations exceeding 4.8 GW (up 18.5% relative to 2022), for a total surpassing 30.4 GW. 53 Brazil accounted for more than three-fourths of the total additions in Latin America and the Caribbean. 54 The country's strong growth was driven primarily by the free market through private PPAs. 55

Wind energy was Brazil's second largest source of electricity after hydropower in 2023, accounting for 14.2% of generation. 56 Most of this electricity is produced in the country's north-east, far from population centres and hydropower resources. 57 To link these regions and increase wind (and solar) energy penetration, Brazil is investing heavily in new transmission infrastructure, with auctions held in late 2023 and early 2024. 58

India rose three spots in 2023 to place fifth for additions, after Germany. 59 Following a 26.6% increase in 2022, India's wind market rose 52% to 2.8 GW, bringing cumulative capacity to 44.7 GW (all onshore). 60 This was the strongest year for additions since India shifted from a FIT system to reverse auctions in 2017, although the policy focus on minimising price has continued to strain investors and the domestic supply chain. 61 Wind energy's share of generation for the year was around 4.8%. 62

During 2023, 21 GW of wind power capacity was publicly tendered in India. 63 The year also saw increased interest in PPAs among industrial and commercial consumers. 64

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An average of 15 GW per year will be needed to achieve the national wind power target (140 GW) for 2030. 65

By region, Europe placed second and accounted for all of the remaining top 10 countries, with the exception of Canada. 66 Europe added nearly 17.8 GW (net 17 GW xiv ), most of which was installed onshore (78.6%), for a total of 260 GW (225.8 GW onshore, 34.2 GW offshore). 67 Additions were slightly (0.5%) below the record installations in 2022 but, excluding Germany, Europe's annual gross additions fell more than 8%. 68 Seven European countries installed more than 1 GW, while 16 (including 7 European Union (EU) Member States) did not add any capacity in 2023. 69

The region's top markets – Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, France and the United Kingdom – together accounted for 63% of Europe's 2023 installations. 70 Additions increased significantly in Germany and the Netherlands, but declined in the other three countries. 71

The EU added a record 16 GW (13.1 GW onshore, 2.9 GW offshore; net 15.3 GW) to total 220.1 GW (200.7 GW onshore, 19.4 GW offshore). 72 Although annual installations remained well below what is needed to achieve EU targets xv for 2030, investments in new wind projects more than doubled relative to 2022, when investment fell to its lowest level since 2009. 73

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Several actions in 2023 and early 2024 improved the situation for EU wind power markets and industry moving forward. Many more permits than ever before were approved for onshore projects, thanks to new regional permitting rules, with both Germany and Spain seeing 70% increases over 2022. 74 In October, the European Commission unveiled a plan xvi to accelerate installations and strengthen the competitiveness of the region's turbine manufacturing industry to create quality jobs and enhance energy security. 75 Two months later, 26 EU Member States (not Hungary) committed to implementing several actions xvii including: streamlined permitting rules; auction prices indexed to reflect cost increases; long-term visibility of auction schedules; and steps to unlock investments in wind energy's value chain and necessary infrastructure. 76 However, auctions continued to exclude smaller locally based investors, including local co-operatives; some experts argue that their inclusion could counter local protests and help speed permitting. 77 In early 2024, final agreement was reached on the Net Zero Industry Act, which, among others, targets 36 GW of turbine manufacturing in Europe annually and includes non-price award criteria (such as sustainability and supply chain resilience) in selection of winning bids at auction. 78

Nonetheless, challenges continued during 2023, with new threats arising. Hundreds of gigawatts of wind power capacity were awaiting grid connection, and as of October the EU had four times more capacity awaiting permits than under construction. 79 The year also saw numerous acts of sabotage, leading governments and companies to begin monitoring and securing wind farms and related infrastructure, particularly offshore. 80

Germany again claimed Europe's top spot for additions in 2023 and ranked fourth globally after Brazil. 81 The country installed 3.9 GW (3.6 MW onshore, 0.3 GW offshore; 3.4 GW net) for a year-end total nearing 69.7 GW (more than 61.1 GW onshore, 8.5 GW offshore). 82 Onshore installations, up 48% over 2022, were the highest in a single year since 2017, just before Germany's FIT system expired; however, additions remained well below the 2017 peak (6.1 GW). 83 Further increases in annual installations will be needed to achieve new federal wind power targets of 115 GW onshore and 30 GW offshore by 2030. 84

Improvements in Germany's market have followed the adoption (since 2021) of several laws to end reliance on Russian fossil fuels and to accelerate renewable energy deployment; these included ambitious annual installation goals, adjusted prices in auctions to account for rising costs, and measures to reduce permitting challenges. 85 Although EU legislation on energy communities had not been implemented at the federal level by the end of 2023, several German states had adopted (or were considering) community energy legislation. 86

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The Netherlands increased its total installed wind power capacity by 26>% in 2023.

Following Germany for new wind power capacity was the Netherlands, which installed a record 2.4 GW to rank sixth worldwide. 87 With around 0.5 GW added onshore and 1.9 GW added offshore, the country increased its total capacity 26%, to nearly 11.5 GW. 88 Having surpassed a 4.5 GW offshore target by the end of 2023, the Netherlands aims to reach 21 GW by the end of 2032. 89

Annual installations in Sweden fell slightly, with nearly 2 GW added (all onshore) for a total of 16.4 GW. 90 The country ranked third in Europe and seventh globally for new capacity. 91 Sweden does not use auctions to deploy wind power capacity, but the domestic industry is supported by a strong PPA market. 92 Additional capacity made up for less favourable wind conditions during the year, increasing total wind generation by 4.5% (34.5 TWh). 93

France had its second strongest year, ranking eighth worldwide for installations. 94 Additions of 1.6 GW (1.2 GW onshore, nearly 0.4 GW offshore) brought total capacity to 22.6 GW (mostly onshore). 95 France's first national renewable energy law came into force in early 2023, improving auction conditions in order to accelerate wind (and solar) installations. 96 The country was second in Europe, after Germany, for awarded capacity (4.2 GW) via auctions in 2023. 97 Wind energy generated a record 50.7 TWh and met an estimated 10.2% of France's electricity demand during the year. 98

Despite a 17.5% decline in additions relative to 2022 (following a 36.4% decline in 2022), the United Kingdom continued to rank among the top countries in Europe (fifth) and the world (tenth), with 1.4 GW added. 99 Onshore additions, almost entirely in Scotland, remained constant (0.5 GW), while offshore installations fell to 0.8 GW. 100 In the final quarter of 2023, wind energy generated more electricity than gas and provided more than half (51.5%) of UK generation. 101

Over the past two decades, the EU has seen a consistent increase xviii in wind energy's output and share of electricity demand. 102 Despite relatively poor wind conditions in 2023, wind generation rose 3% to a new record and met 19% of EU electricity demand xix (16.8% onshore, 2.2% offshore). 103 Across all Europe, Denmark (56%) and Ireland (36%) had the highest wind shares in their electricity mix, and wind energy met or exceeded 20% of electricity demand in the United Kingdom (28.7%); Germany, the Netherlands and Spain (all 27%); Sweden and Portugal (both 26%); Lithuania (21%); and Greece (20%). 104 At year's end, Germany continued to lead in Europe for total wind power capacity, with 69.7 GW, followed by Spain (30.6 GW), the United Kingdom (29.6 GW), France (22.6 GW) and Sweden (16.4 GW). 105

Canada rejoined the global top 10 for the first time since 2018, placing ninth after France. 106 More than 1.7 GW of utility-scale wind capacity came online in 2023, up 71% over 2022 and the most since 2014, although this was short of the estimated annual installations required to achieve Canada's net zero targets. 107 Most new capacity was installed in Alberta, with small amounts in the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and New Brunswick; other provinces had no additions due to the lack of centralised procurement policies and of corporate PPA options. 108 At year's end, Canada had a total of 17 GW of wind power capacity. 109 Wind energy generated 6.4% of Canada's electricity in 2023 (up from 6.1% in 2022). 110

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Offshore Wind

Offshore, seven countries in Europe and four in Asia added 10.9 GW of wind power capacity in 2023, for a global total of 75.2 GW. 111 Turbines operating offshore accounted for over 9% of new grid-connected wind power capacity in 2023 and represented nearly 7.4% of the total at year's end. 112

China led the sector for the sixth consecutive year, adding 6.3 GW to end 2023 with 37.8 GW, overtaking all of Europe. 113 China's 25% market increase followed a dramatic 2022 decline that was due mostly to a slowdown after a rush to commission projects before the national FIT expired (end-2021), as well as to pandemic-related restrictions. 114

Elsewhere in Asia, Taiwan ranked second for new capacity, adding 0.7 GW for a total of 2.1 GW. 115 Japan and the Republic of Korea also added capacity in 2023. 116 On the first day of 2024, Japan completed its largest commercial offshore project (112 MW), paired with battery storage capacity. 117 Also in 2023, India unveiled a strategy to award leases for up to 37 GW by 2030, and the Philippines signed contracts for development rights for two offshore wind farms totalling 440 MW. 118

Following a significant decline in 2022, Europe had a record year for offshore wind installations, with 3.8 GW of new capacity connected to the grid. 119 The Netherlands (1.9 GW) accounted for half of Europe's additions and ended the year with the world's largest operating offshore wind farm (1.5 GW). 120 Others to add capacity were the United Kingdom (833 MW), France (360 MW), Denmark (344 MW), Germany (329 MW), and Norway (35 MW), which completed the world's largest floating offshore project (95 MW). 121

In Europe, a record USD 33.1 billion (EUR 30 billion) was invested in offshore wind, following a low of USD 0.44 billion (EUR 0.4 billion) in 2022, in a sign that delayed projects were moving ahead. 122 However, the news was not all good: developers paused or scrapped projects in the United Kingdom in response to grid infrastructure challenges and soaring costs; Iberdrola cancelled its flagship floating pilot in Spain; and Equinor postponed indefinitely a floating project in Norway due to technology availability challenges and rising costs. 123 After receiving no bids in its offshore auction, the UK government raised the ceiling price for the next auction to account for inflation and higher input prices. 124

At year's end, Europe's offshore wind power capacity totalled 34.2 GW across 13 countries. 125 The region's floating wind power capacity rose 37 MW to 208 MW, accounting for 88% of global installations. 126 European countries targeted a combined 120 GW of offshore wind capacity in northern sea areas by 2030, and the EU targeted more than 215 GW by 2040. 127 To reach offshore wind targets for 2030, Europe will need to build far more capacity than the existing supply chain can manufacture each year (around 7 GW annually). 128

The initial turbines of the United States' first two commercial-scale offshore wind farms xx began feeding electricity to the grid in December 2023 and early January 2024. 129 Also in 2023, the US state of Louisiana signed agreements for the first projects in the Gulf of Mexico, and California enacted a law paving the way for its first offshore wind farm and joined the Global Offshore Wind Alliance xxi , adopting a state target of 25 GW by 2045. 130 At year's end, 11 US states had combined procurement targets totalling 84 GW; more than 4 GW of capacity was newly procured in 2023, but cancellations drove down the net total. 131

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Overall, it was a turbulent year for US offshore wind, with more than 12 GW of contracts (half the country's offshore pipeline) cancelled or targeted for renegotiation, due to soaring costs, high interest rates, and supply chain delays, with developers forced to write down billions of dollars of investments. 132

The lack of a US supply chain exposes developers to global market pressures, while the year's challenges xxii slowed investment in the supply chain's progress. 133 In an effort to get the sector back on course, several eastern US states xxiii and federal agencies agreed to co-ordinate their project procurement and supply chain development. 134

Several governments around the world added or increased targets for future offshore wind power capacity in 2023. 135 A record 39.4 GW of offshore capacity was awarded during the year, including 18.2 GW in China under the “grid parity” mechanism, and the remaining 21.2 GW through auctions in Europe (15.5 GW), the United States (4 GW) and Japan (1.4 GW). 136 The global pipeline for floating wind power capacity rose 32%, from 185 GW in late 2022 to 244 GW in late 2023, with most development in Europe. 137

By the end of 2023, as in 2022, 19 countries (13 in Europe, 5 in Asia and 1 in North America) had at least some offshore wind capacity in operation. 138 China led in total capacity (37.8 GW), followed distantly by the United Kingdom (14.8 GW), Germany (8.5 GW), the Netherlands (4.7 GW) and Denmark (2.7 GW). 139 Asia (mostly China) was home to nearly 55% of the total. 140

Technology and Innovation

Innovation in the wind power industry is constantly progressing, particularly in the offshore sector, where turbines are moving farther from shore and are exposed to extreme weather. 141 Companies are testing new manufacturing approaches and materials, and new commercial structures, to meet demand and operate in an ever-more competitive environment. 142 Advances are driven mainly by firms in Asia and Europe, largely in response to price pressure, with activity focused on logistical capacities, floating foundations and green hydrogen production. 143

The upward trend in turbine sizes continued, as a means to optimise cost and performance xxiv , with the average turbine delivered to market in 2023 exceeding 5 MW, up 22% over 2022. 144 The industry continued to push turbine sizes ever larger in order to increase per unit output, achieve ambitious government targets and thrive in an increasingly competitive market. 145 For onshore use, several Chinese manufacturers announced new turbines with capacities in the 10-12 MW range, and SANY launched a 15 MW machine. 146 Newer turbine models for offshore use were in the 14 to 18 MW range, with plans unveiled for turbines rated up to 22 MW, including a model that would stand taller than the Eiffel Tower. 147

Manufacturers aim to balance the quest for ever-greater economies of scale with quality and speed of manufacturing.

Rapid innovation and up-scaling of turbines as manufacturers seek to outdo one another, often without sufficient research and development, has led to problems ranging from operational inefficiencies, to an undermining of business profitability, to turbine failures. 148 In 2023, quality issues arose with rotor blades and bearings for two of Siemens Gamesa's onshore turbine platforms because they were not sufficiently tested; fixing them was expected to cost the company USD 1.8 billion (EUR 1.6 billion). 149 Vessel builders, logistics planners and others are increasingly challenged to adapt as turbine sizes grow ever larger and become more specialised. 150

Some western manufacturers have begun shifting their focus from up-scaling turbines to standardising supply chains and product lines in order to optimise technology and support a resilient and sustainable path of development. 151 In 2023, Vestas and Siemens Gamesa xxv partnered to increase standardisation – starting with equipment for tower transport – to reduce costs and speed shipping. 152 In early 2024, GE Vernova cancelled plans for its 18 MW machine to focus on a smaller platform while upgrading its turbines and improving efficiency. 153

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Footnotes

i The data in this section reflect wind power capacity that was grid-connected by the end of 2023. Including capacity that was mechanically installed in China, but not necessarily grid-connected, global wind power additions in 2023 were closer to 120 GW, with the year-end global total as high as 1,051 GW. “Mechanically installed” refers to capacity that is installed in place and ready to produce electricity but not necessarily officially connected to the grid. See endnote 1 for this section.

ii Despite cost increases in recent years, wind power remains among the cheapest forms of electricity generation worldwide. Wind energy also can provide additional benefits. For example, a US government study found that the health and climate benefits of wind energy in the United States, plus the associated grid system value, far exceeded the levelised costs of wind energy in that country. See endnote 8 for this section.

iii According to one estimate, wind project costs in Europe have increased 30-35% since before the COVID-19 pandemic. See endnote 15 for this section.

iv Some jurisdictions are engaging local communities through, for example, the offer of partial ownership in wind power projects, payments associated with wind power projects, or reduced electricity prices.

v The regions of the Pacific and of Africa and the Middle East each accounted for less than 1% of global 2023 additions.

vi The top 10 markets changed relative to 2022, when they were China, the United States, Brazil, Germany, Finland, France, Sweden, India, the United Kingdom and Spain. To rank among the top 10 in 2023, annual installations of nearly 1.4 GW were required, about level with 1.4 GW in 2021, but down from 1.6 GW in 2022. See endnote 33 for this section.

vii The top 10 countries for cumulative capacity at the end of 2021, 2022 and 2023 were China, the United States, Germany, India, Spain, the United Kingdom, Brazil, France, Canada and Sweden.

viii China's national FIT expired at the end of 2021. Under the “grid parity” scheme, all new wind projects receive the regulated price for coal-fired generation in each province.

ix The Chinese Wind Energy Association reported that 79.4 GW (72.2 GW onshore and 7.2 GW offshore) was mechanically installed during 2023, up from 50 GW in 2022, for a year-end total of 474.6 GW (of which 436.9 GW was onshore and 37.7 GW was offshore). See endnote 35 for this section.

x Chinese turbine manufacturers installed 2.3 GW of turbines outside of China in 2023, with 63% of that in Asia; 97% of installations by Chinese companies were installed domestically, as in 2022. China's turbine prices are about 20% below those of European and US companies' machines. See endnote 43 for this section.

xi This figure is net of the 325 MW of onshore wind power capacity that was decommissioned in 2023. In addition, eight onshore projects were partially repowered (286 MW) during the year, and four projects completed full repowering (417 MW). By one estimate, repowering of US projects that are 12 years or older can bring about capacity factor gains of 10-20%. See endnote 45 for this section.

xii Wind power accounted for 366 GW of capacity actively waiting in US interconnection queues at the end of 2023. See endnote 47 for this section.

xiii The slower winds (following a year of stronger than normal winds) were reportedly due to El Niño, which weakened winds across much of the United States and particularly in the Midwest, where a large portion of US wind turbines is operating. As a result, the average US capacity factor in 2023 was 33.5%, down from a high of 35.9% in 2022. See endnote 49 for this section.

xiv The difference is due to decommissioning.

xv The REPowerEU strategy calls for 420 GW of wind power capacity by 2030. See endnote 73 for this section.

xvi The European Wind Power Action Plan aims to address several challenges facing the region's wind industry, including “insufficient and uncertain demand, slow and complex permitting, lack of access to raw materials, high inflation and commodity prices, unsupportive design of national tenders, increased pressure from international competitors and risks on availability of a skilled workforce.” See endnote 75 for this section.

xvii The commitments were made under the European Wind Charter. See endnote 76 for this section.

xviii The year 2021 was an exception, with wind energy's output down relative to 2020 due to poor wind conditions.

xix EU electricity demand was down 4% relative to 2022. See endnote 103 for this section.

xx The South Fork Wind project (132 MW) off the coast of New York became the first commercial-scale US wind farm with its completion in March 2024. Two additional projects were under construction in 2023: Vineyard Wind (806 MW) in Massachusetts, and Revolution Wind (704 MW), which will supply electricity to Connecticut and Rhode Island. See endnote 129 for this section.

xxi The Global Offshore Wind Alliance was launched in 2022 and has 13 member countries (Australia, Belgium, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States). It aims to contribute to achieving total global offshore wind power capacity of at least 380 GW by 2030. See endnote 130 for this section.

xxii Additional challenges that hampered the industry included uncertainty regarding rules related to federal tax credits and the lack of installation vessels, for which some developers face multi-year delays. See endnote 133 for this section.

xiii In early 2024, some US states offered opportunities for developers to rebid at auction and adopted inflation-adjustment mechanisms, and by late February the industry was on track to replace the contracts that faltered in 2023, amounting to up to 15.5 GW. However, in April, GE Vernova's decision to abandon its 18 MW turbine led New York State to cancel power contracts for three offshore projects that had planned to use the machines; the anticipated project costs and environmental impacts were based on deploying this turbine. See endnote 134 for this section.

xxiv Larger, higher-efficiency turbines mean that fewer turbines, foundations, converters and cables, and less labour and other resources, are required for the same output, translating into (at least in theory) faster project development, reduced risk, lower costs of grid-connection and of operation and maintenance, and overall greater yield and lower levelised cost of energy, all important for the offshore sector in particular. See endnote 144 for this section.

xxv While acknowledging that slowing new product introduction might help the industry overall and that there is a rethink underway about whether bigger is really better, as of early 2024, Siemens Gamesa was planning to install a 21 MW prototype (awarded through the European Commission Innovation Funds) during the year, reflecting the unrelenting pressure to rapidly innovate and scale up machines while attempting to balance the quest for ever-greater economies of scale with turbine quality and speed of manufacturing. See endnote 152 for this section.

  1. Based on data from the following sources: Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document, with adjustments made for 2023 European data from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 7, 10, 11, 17, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; updated statistics for 2023 onshore additions and year-end total in France from G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May 2024; updated statistics for 2023 additions and year-end total in the United States from J. Hensley, American Clean Power, personal communication with REN21, May 2024. Global additions in 2023 were 116.6 GW (105.8 GW onshore and 10.8 GW offshore) for a year-end total of 1,020,639 MW (945,477 MW onshore and 75,162 MW offshore), from GWEC, “Global Wind Report 2024”, op. cit. this note, pp. 14, 138, 139. Global additions totalled 116,065 MW in 2023 (up 12.5% over 2022 additions) for a year-end total of 1,046,781 MW, based on preliminary data from World Wind Energy Association (WWEA), “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023, and adjusted upwards based on new data for China, as provided by S. Gsänger, WWEA, personal communication with REN21, 7-8 May 2024. Net additions were 116 GW (up 12.9%), based on data from International Renewable Energy Agency, “Renewable Capacity Highlights”, 2024, https://prod-cd.irena.org/Publications/2024/Mar/Renewable-capacity-statistics-2024; some 107 GW was added onshore and 11 GW offshore for a total of 118 GW, from BloombergNEF, “China's Goldwind Retains Turbine Supplier Lead, as Global Wind Additions Hit New High, According to BloombergNEF”, 27 March 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/chinas-goldwind-retains-turbine-supplier-lead-as-global-wind-additions-hit-new-high-according-to-bloombergnef. Note that GWEC reports installations with turbines larger than 200 kW; projects with smaller turbines are not included. In addition, GWEC data include installed and grid-connected capacity only. During 2023, 1,169.4 MW was decommissioned, including 736 MW in Europe, followed by North America (325 MW in the United States, 1.6 MW in Canada), Asia (84.9 MW in Japan and 2.4 MW in the Republic of Korea) and Latin America (19.5 MW, all in Colombia) from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, op. cit. this note, and from WindEurope, op. cit. this note, p. 9; this was down from 1,860 MW in 2022 (and 1,132 MW decommissioned in 2021), from GWEC, “Global Wind Report 2023”, March 2023, unpublished document. Annual installations reported in this section are gross additions unless otherwise noted (but most countries did not decommission capacity during the year), and year-end totals account for decommissioned capacity. An estimated 120 GW of capacity (105.6 GW onshore and 10.9 GW offshore) was installed in 2023, including mechanically installed capacity, increasing the global total to 1,051 GW, from S. Gsänger, WWEA, personal communication with REN21, 7 May 2024. Figure 33 based on historical data from GWEC, “Global Wind Report 2024”, op. cit. this note; data for 2023 based on sources provided in this note. 1
  2. Increase in annual additions relative to 2022 based on data from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document, with adjustments made for European data from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 7, 10, 11, 17, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; updated statistics for onshore additions in France from G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May, 2024; updated statistics for United States from J. Hensley, American Clean Power, personal communication with REN21, May 2024. Up in all regions except North America (due to decline in the United States) and Europe from GWEC, “Global Wind Report 2024”, op. cit. this note, p. 144. Note that additions were up 34% relative to 2022 based on 2023 additions of 116,065 MW in 2023 and of 86,403 MW in 2022, from World Wind Energy Association (WWEA), “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023, and up 40% based on updated data for China, from S. Gsänger, WWEA, personal communication with REN21, 7-8 May, 2024. 2
  3. Increase in world outside of China and China's share of global market based on data from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document, with adjustments made for European data from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 7, 10, 11, 17, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; adjustments for Europe also from G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May, 2024; adjustments for United States from J. Hensley, American Clean Power, personal communication with REN21, May 2024; and from World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023. Markets that contracted in 2023 relative to 2022 include: the United States, several countries in Europe (Belgium, France, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom); in addition, several countries that have ranked among the world's top 10 in recent years (2018-2022) added relatively little capacity in 2023 (outside of Europe, these include Argentina, Australia, Mexico, Türkiye and Viet Nam), all based on data from idem (all sources), and from REN21, “Renewables Global Status Report”, multiple editions.3
  4. The year saw record high investment in offshore wind, up 79% to USD 76.7 billion, but a 17% decline in investment in onshore wind, from O. Metcalfe, “Offshore Wind Investment Hit All-Time High in 2023”, BloombergNEF, 7 February 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/offshore-wind-investment-hit-all-time-high-in-2023. Around 155 GW of turbines was procured for the year, up 16 GW over 2022, due largely to China (almost 100 GW) as well as markets in Europe (19 GW) and North America (17 GW). For the non-China offshore sector, firm order intakes tripled relative to 2022, but China's offshore orders declined 56% due to a pause in procurement decisions, all from “Global Wind Turbine Orders Hit 155 GW in 2023”, Windpower Engineering, 18 March 2024, https://www.windpowerengineering.com/global-wind-turbine-orders-hit-155-gw-in-2023.4
  5. Countries in Europe included Denmark (56%), Ireland (36%), the United Kingdom (28.7%), Germany, the Netherlands and Spain (all 27%), Sweden and Portugal (both 26%), all except for the United Kingdom and Germany from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, p. 19, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; United Kingdom based on data from UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), “Table 6.1. Renewable Electricity Capacity and Generation”, 28 March 2024, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66043060f9ab410011eea3e2/ET_6.1_MAR_24.xlsx; Germany from Geschäftsstelle der Arbeitsgruppe Erneuerbare Energien-Statistik (AGEE-Stat) am Umweltbundesamt, “Erneuerbare Energien in Deutschland: Daten zur Entwicklung im Jahr 2023”, March 2024, p. 9, https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/erneuerbare-energien-in-deutschland-2023; Uruguay derived at least one-third of its electricity from the wind, from World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 4, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023.5
  6. Djibouti inaugurated the Ghoubet wind farm (60 MW), and the country aims for 100% renewables by 2035, from Oxford Business Group, “Djibouti's New 60 MW Wind Farm Boosts Green Energy”, 15 November 2023, https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Wind-Power/Djiboutis-New-60-MW-Wind-Farm-Boosts-Green-Energy.html, and from R. Whitlock, “Djibouti Inaugurates Its First Ever Wind Farm”, Renewable Energy Magazine, 11 September 2023, https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/wind/djibouti-inaugurates-its-first-ever-wind-farm-20230911; Mauritania installed its first major wind project, bringing total capacity to 135 MW at the end of 2023, from WWEA, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 7, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023; the United Arab Emirates first project of commercial size (103.5 MW) from A. Ahmar, “UAE Opens 104 MW Wind Project Ahead of U.N. Climate Summit”, Reuters, 6 October 2023, https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/uae-opens-104-mw-wind-project-ahead-un-climate-summit-2023-10-06.6
  7. Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 139. FITs have played a role particularly in Japan, from idem.7
  8. Agreement by 130 countries from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, pp. 5, 19, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; new targets include, for example: the Republic of Korea aims for 21.6% renewable energy in the country's total energy mix and 14.3 GW of offshore wind capacity installed by 2030; Saudi Arabia targets 20 GW renewable energy additions annually up to 2030; and Viet Nam aims for 21.8 GW onshore wind power capacity (up from 5 GW at end-2023) and 14.3 GW offshore capacity by 2030, all from GWEC, op. cit. this note, pp. 129, 130, 135. Drivers from, for example: World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 6, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023; A. Symons, “Finland: Wind Power Increased by 75% Last Year, Boosting Energy Security and Climate Goals”, Euro News, 12 January 2023, https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/01/12/finland-wind-power-increased-by-75-last-year-boosting-energy-security-and-climate-goals; Kyodo News, “Japan Aims to Speed Up Start of New Offshore Wind Power Plants”, 18 March 2022, https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/03/9e13148b7dc4-japan-aims-to-speed-up-start-of-new-offshore-wind-power-plants.html; A. Morales, “U.K. to Ramp Up Offshore Wind Targets in Energy Security Push”, Bloomberg, 17 March 2022, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-17/u-k-to-ramp-up-offshore-wind-targets-in-energy-security-push. Cost-competitiveness of wind power also based on W. Mathis, “Renewable Power's Big Mistake Was a Promise to Always Get Cheaper”, Bloomberg, 7 November 2022, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-07/wind-giant-rues-promise-that-renewable-power-could-be-free; electricity generation from wind power is cheaper than that from coal in almost every country, even without considering the cost of carbon, from GWEC, “Global Wind Report 2023”, March 2023, unpublished document, p. 21; wind energy is among the cheapest forms of electricity, from D. McCarthy and E. Wesoff, “Chart: Wind Turbine Prices Surged to Decade High in 2022”, Canary Media, 12 May 2023, https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/wind/chart-wind-turbine-prices-surged-to-decade-high-in-2022; US benefits compared to levelised costs from US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, “Land-based Wind Market Report: 2023 Edition”, 2023, p. xii, https://emp.lbl.gov/wind-technologies-market-report.8
  9. Across Europe, there were 4.41 GW of wind PPAs in 2023, from PexaQuote, PPA Tracker, cited in J.P. Casey, “Europe Renews Appetite for PPAs, Signs 16.2GW of Renewable Deals in 2023, Including 10.5GW of Solar”, PV-Tech, 30 January 2024, https://www.pv-tech.org/europe-renews-appetite-for-ppas-signs-16-2gw-of-renewable-deals-in-2023-including-10-5gw-of-solar; PPAs play a critical role in Sweden, from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, p. 38, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; PPAs play an important role in Brazil, from Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, pp. 145, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, and from L. Morais, “AES Brasil Signs 154-MW Wind PPA with Microsoft”, Renewables Now, 1 September 2023, https://renewablesnow.com/news/aes-brasil-signs-154-mw-wind-ppa-with-microsoft-832783; PPAs play an increasingly important role in India, from J. Hossain, World Wind Energy Association (WWEA), presentation for WWEA, “#WWEAwebinar: Wind Power Around the World”, 10 April 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduI2WPpIIw. 9
  10. Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; GWEC, “Mission Critical: Building the Global Wind Energy Supply Chain for a 1.5°C World”, 1 December 2023, https://gwec.net/supplychainreport2023. 10
  11. Fossil fuel subsidies from World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 4, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023; market frameworks from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, pp. 3, 43, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024. Public subsidies for fossil fuels were an estimated USD 7 trillion in 2022 (around 7% of global GDP), and expected to continue rising, from Black, Liu, Parry and Vernon, “IMF Fossil Fuel Subsidies Data: 2023 Update”, 2023, cited in GWEC, op. cit. this note, p. 30.11
  12. Stop-start of auctions from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, pp. 3, 43, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; GWEC, “Mission Critical: Building the Global Wind Energy Supply Chain for a 1.5°C World”, 1 December 2023, https://gwec.net/supplychainreport2023; price as determining factor from idem and from “Siemens Boss Demands EU Action to Fed Off ‘Cheap' Chinese Wind Power Imports”, South China Morning Post, 21 February 2024, https://finance.yahoo.com/news/siemens-boss-demands-eu-action-093000590.html; failure to adapt from G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, 10 May 2024. In many cases, governments have failed to increase maximum bidding prices to account for high inflation and high borrowing costs, which led to auctions that were either undersubscribed or had no subscribers at all, from idem. 12
  13. Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 13, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, 10 May 2024. Permitting processes, in many cases, are largely cumbersome, not digitised, with offices that are either understaffed or staffed with personnel who are not trained adequately, and with deadlines that are not always clear or respected, from Costanzo, idem. See also, for example: permitting from K. Abnett, “EU Built Record New Wind Farms Last Year But Lags Green Energy Goal”, Reuters, 12 January 2024, https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/eu-built-record-new-wind-farms-last-year-lags-green-energy-goal-2024-01-12; World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 4, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023. Globally, the average planning and permitting process exceeds 5 years, and take 10 years or longer in some countries, from idem. Grid planning and connection from J. Lee and M. Blanch, “‘Three Big Barriers Stop Nations Quickly Adopting Wind Power – It's Time to Break Them Down'”, Recharge News, 13 March 2023, https://www.rechargenews.com/energy-transition/-three-big-barriers-stop-nations-quickly-adopting-wind-power-its-time-to-break-them-down-/2-1-1418216; C. Clifford, “Wind and Solar Power Generators Wait in Years-long Lines to Put Clean Electricity on the Grid, Then Face Huge Interconnection Fees They Can't Afford”, CNBC, 6 April 2023, https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/06/outdated-us-energy-grid-tons-of-clean-energy-stuck-waiting-in-line.html; N. Ford, “Europe Accelerates Power Exports from Fast-growing Solar, Wind Markets”, Reuters Events, 24 January 2024, https://www.reutersevents.com/renewables/solar-pv/europe-accelerates-power-exports-fast-growing-solar-wind-markets; E. Garcia, “US Wind Rebounds to Set up Stronger Mid-Term Outlook”, Reuters, 4 April 2024, https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-wind-rebounds-set-up-stronger-mid-term-outlook-2024-04-04; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, “Grid Connection Backlog Grows by 30% in 2023, Dominated by Requests for Solar, Wind, and Energy Storage”, 10 April 2024, https://emp.lbl.gov/news/grid-connection-backlog-grows-30-2023-dominated-requests-solar-wind-and-energy-storage. At the end of 2023, the US grid connection queue had nearly 2.6 terawatts of capacity, including 366 GW of wind power capacity (120 GW of which was for offshore) seeking grid connection, from idem. 13
  14. Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, pp. 25-26, 43-44, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; GWEC, “Mission Critical: Building the Global Wind Energy Supply Chain for a 1.5°C World”, 2023, https://gwec.net/supplychainreport2023.14
  15. See, for example, the following: K. Abnett, “EU Built Record New Wind Farms Last Year But Lags Green Energy Goal”, Reuters, 12 January, 2024, https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/eu-built-record-new-wind-farms-last-year-lags-green-energy-goal-2024-01-12; US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, “Land-based Wind Market Report: 2023 Edition”, 2023, p. x, https://emp.lbl.gov/wind-technologies-market-report; N. Chestney, “Analysis: Wind Power Industry Drifts Off Course”, Reuters, 28 September 2023, https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/wind-power-industry-drifts-off-course-2023-09-28; Moody's Investor Services, cited in B. Storrow, “Clean Energy Is Booming. So Why Are Manufacturers Struggling?” E&E News, 15 November 2023, https://www.eenews.net/articles/clean-energy-is-booming-so-why-are-manufacturers-struggling; D.R. Baker, S. Kishan and J.A. Dlouhy, “A $30 Billion Meltdown in Clean Energy Puts Biden's Climate Goals at Risk”, MSN, 29 November 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/a-30-billion-meltdown-in-clean-energy-puts-biden-s-climate-goals-at-risk/ar-AA1kKwBk; N. Ford, “Europe Accelerates Power Exports from Fast-growing Solar, Wind Markets”, Reuters Events, 24 January 2024, https://www.reutersevents.com/renewables/solar-pv/europe-accelerates-power-exports-fast-growing-solar-wind-markets; Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 16, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024. Note that supply chain challenges, stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and furthered by the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine, did start to improve late in the year, despite longer shipping routes required to avoid the Red Sea, from G. Rajgor, “Mission Accomplished: Wind Turbine Maker Vestas Returns to Profit with Order Boost”, Windpower Monthly, 7 February 2024, https://www.windpowermonthly.com/article/1860534/mission-accomplished-wind-turbine-maker-vestas-returns-profit-order-boost. Wind project costs in Europe up 30-35% since pre-pandemic, from B. Jopson, “The Problem with Europe's Aging Wind Farms”, Financial Times, 23 February 2024, https://www.ft.com/content/7f742d23-673b-47d3-9ce9-64fa5d322abe.15
  16. “Here Are the Big Hurdles to the Global Push to Build up Renewable Energy”, Associated Press, 26 March 2024, https://apnews.com/article/challenges-to-renewable-energy-projects-00d202c514e2f4544c5659f608dc8dd0; Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, pp. 26, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024. Higher cost of capital for renewable energy projects in developing countries (even India, Mexico and Viet Nam) are due to concerns about regulator risk, land use, creditworthiness and financial viability of energy offtakers, as well as risks associated with transmission availability, currency stability and dispute resolution, from idem.16
  17. “Here Are the Big Hurdles to the Global Push to Build up Renewable Energy”, Associated Press, 26 March 2024, https://apnews.com/article/challenges-to-renewable-energy-projects-00d202c514e2f4544c5659f608dc8dd0. 17
  18. Strongly concentrated from A-M. Dedene, “China's Growing Offshore Wind Energy Drive”, The Diplomat, 31 October 2023, https://thediplomat.com/2023/10/chinas-growing-offshore-wind-energy-drive; more than 99% of the offshore supply chain is in Europe and Asia-Pacific from idem; far from shore from M. Gallucci, “After a Brutal 2023, Offshore Wind Looks to Overcome Growing Pains”, Canary Media, 21 December 2023, https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/wind/after-a-brutal-2023-offshore-wind-looks-to-overcome-growing-pains. 18
  19. Prices that did not cover costs from, for example, Allianz Commercial, “A Turning Point for Offshore Wind,” cited in M. Bates, “Offshore Wind Presenting New Slew of Unique Challenges and Risks”, North American Windpower, 22 September 2023, https://nawindpower.com/offshore-wind-presenting-new-slew-of-unique-challenges-and-risks; C. Ryan, “The Bill for Offshore Wind Power Is Rising”, Wall Street Journal, 22 November 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/the-bill-for-offshore-wind-power-is-rising/ar-AA1klBRh; A-M. Dedene, “China's Growing Offshore Wind Energy Drive”, The Diplomat, 31 October 2023, https://thediplomat.com/2023/10/chinas-growing-offshore-wind-energy-drive; W. Mathis and Bloomberg, “As Renewable-Energy Demand Soars Amid Extreme Heat, Rising Costs Are Making Offshore Wind Projects So Expensive That ‘It Doesn't Make Sense to Continue'”, Fortune, 22 July 2023, https://fortune.com/2023/07/22/offshore-wind-projects-nixed-due-to-costs-despite-clean-energy-needs. cancelled from O. Metcalfe, “Offshore Wind Investment Hit All-time High in 2023”, BloombergNEF, 7 February 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/offshore-wind-investment-hit-all-time-high-in-2023; W. Mathis, “Key UK Offshore Wind Project Axed in Blow to Climate Plans”, Bloomberg, 20 July 2023, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-20/vattenfall-stops-uk-offshore-wind-farm-plans-due-to-costs; T. Solsvik, “Equinor Puts Norwegian Trollvind Offshore Wind Farm on Hold”, Reuters, 22 May 2023, https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/equinor-puts-norwegian-trollvind-offshore-wind-farm-hold-2023-05-22; Japanese developers from C. Crownhart, “What's Next for Offshore Wind”, Technology Review, 10 January 2024, https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/01/10/1086354/whats-next-for-offshore-wind. According to one source, around 6.9 GW of projects in the United States and United Kingdom cancelled their revenue contracts in 2023 in response to rising costs of equipment and financing, supply chain delays, barriers to permitting and grid connections, all of which affected expected returns, from Metcalfe, op. cit. this note. By one estimate, the levelised cost of a subsidised US offshore project increased nearly 50% in nominal terms between 2021 and 2023, to USD 114.20 per MWh, from M. Gallucci, “US Offshore Wind Pushes Ahead Despite Industry Turmoil”, Canary Media, 24 August 2023, https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/wind/us-offshore-wind-pushes-ahead-despite-industry-turmoil. Costs are higher in the United States than globally because the supply chain is immature, from Ryan, op. cit. this note. 19
  20. C. Ryan, “The Bill for Offshore Wind Power Is Rising”, Wall Street Journal, 22 November 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/the-bill-for-offshore-wind-power-is-rising/ar-AA1klBRh.20
  21. GE Vernova saw a USD 1.44 billion loss, but this was an improvement over 2022 (loss of USD 2.24 billion) due to a 16% increase in revenue, from P. Tisheva, “GE Vernova's Renewable Energy Reduces Loss to USD 1.4bn in 2023”, Renewables Now, 23 January 2024, https://renewablesnow.com/news/ge-vernovas-renewable-energy-reduces-loss-to-usd-14bn-in-2023-846356; Siemens Gamesa narrowed losses in the final quarter due to project shifts, from B. Radowitz, “Siemens Gamesa Loss Narrows as Parent Siemens Energy Sees ‘Project Shifts and Timing Effects'”, Recharge News, 24 January 2024, https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/siemens-gamesa-loss-narrows-as-parent-siemens-energy-sees-project-shifts-and-timing-effects/2-1-1587764; Nordex, “Nordex Group: Preliminary Annual Figures for 2023 Confirm Guidance”, 12 February 2024, https://www.nordex-online.com/en/2024/02/nordex-group-preliminary-annual-figures-for-2023-confirm-guidance; G. Rajgor, “Mission Accomplished: Wind Turbine Maker Vestas Returns to Profit with Order Boost”, Windpower Monthly, 7 February 2024, https://www.windpowermonthly.com/article/1860534/mission-accomplished-wind-turbine-maker-vestas-returns-profit-order-boost.21
  22. A.J. Chacko, “Chinese Wind Turbines Set New Record of Orders Amidst Profit Pinch”, Interesting Engineering, 25 February 2024, https://interestingengineering.com/energy/chinese-wind-turbine-orders; Wood Mackenzie, cited in M. Lewis, “Chinese Wind Turbine Orders Hit a Record 100 GW in 2023”, Electrek, 21 February 2024, https://electrek.co/2024/02/21/chinese-wind-turbine-orders-hit-a-record-100-gw-in-2023; Bloomberg News, “Top Wind Firm Profits Tumble 98% in New Blow to Clean Energy”, 26 October 2023, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-26/goldwind-profits-plunged-even-as-wind-power-surges-in-china.22
  23. Complete supply chain from Guiyong Yu, Chinese Wind Energy Association, presentation for World Wind Energy Association, “#WWEAwebinar: Wind Power Around the World”, 10 April 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduI2WPpIIw; less affected from A-M. Dedene, “China's Growing Offshore Wind Energy Drive”, The Diplomat, 31 October 2023, https://thediplomat.com/2023/10/chinas-growing-offshore-wind-energy-drive.23
  24. BloombergNEF, cited in “China's Offshore Wind Boom Drives Costs Down to Match Coal”, Recharge News, 12 June 2023, https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/chinas-offshore-wind-boom-drives-costs-down-to-match-coal/2-1-1465110. China's offshore wind levelised cost of energy (LCOE) fell to USD 65.7 per MWh, about USD 21 per MWh below the weighted averages in the rest of the world, from idem. According to the Chinese Wind Energy Association (CWEA), the LCOE of wind energy fell 60-70% between 2010 and 2022, with onshore wind energy falling from 8.3 US cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 2.7 US cents per kWh, and offshore declining from 18.8 US cents per kWh to 7.7 US cents per kWh during that period, from Guiyong Yu, CWEA, presentation for World Wind Energy Association, “#WWEAwebinar: Wind Power Around the World”, 10 April 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduI2WPpIIw.24
  25. A.J. Chacko, “Chinese Wind Turbines Set New Record of Orders Amidst Profit Pinch”, Interesting Engineering, 25 February 2024, https://interestingengineering.com/energy/chinese-wind-turbine-orders; D.R. Baker, S. Kishan and J.A. Dlouhy, “A $30 Billion Meltdown in Clean Energy Puts Biden's Climate Goals at Risk”, MSN, 29 November 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/a-30-billion-meltdown-in-clean-energy-puts-biden-s-climate-goals-at-risk/ar-AA1kKwBk; C. Ryan, “The Bill for Offshore Wind Power Is Rising”, Wall Street Journal, 22 November 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/the-bill-for-offshore-wind-power-is-rising/ar-AA1klBRh; Bloomberg, “Top Wind Firm Profits Tumble 98% in New Blow to Clean Energy”, 26 October 2023, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-26/goldwind-profits-plunged-even-as-wind-power-surges-in-china. See also Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 113, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024.25
  26. Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, pp. 10-13, 18, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024. To achieve the goal of tripling renewable energy, GWEC estimates that the wind industry will have to roughly triple annual installations within this decade, from idem, p. 42. See also WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, p. 50, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030.26
  27. P.A Rocha, “Europe's Battered Wind Sector Starts to Find Hope in Year of Crisis”, Bloomberg, 20 November 2023, https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/europe-s-battered-wind-sector-starts-to-find-hope-in-year-of-crisis-1.2000894. For example, in 2023, the UK government increased the support price for new offshore wind farms; the EU adopted several plans and policies to speed up permitting; Germany worked to ease access for renewables to the electric grid, all from idem. In 2023 and early 2024, several US states joined to co-ordinate regional offshore wind power development, to collaborate on development of an offshore supply chain, adopted inflation-adjustment mechanisms for offshore wind power and offered opportunities for developers to rebid on projects; see, for example, “New England States Make 6 GW Offshore Wind Pact”, Renews, 4 October 2023, https://renews.biz/88617/new-england-states-make-6gw-offshore-wind-pact; “US Launches East Coast Offshore Cooperation”, Renews, 21 September 2023, https://renews.biz/88354/us-launches-east-coast-offshore-cooperation.27
  28. Mis- and dis-information from M. Lutz and J. Rowland-Shea, “The Oil and Gas Industry Is Behind Offshore Wind Misinformation”, Center for American Progress, 11 December 2023, https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-oil-and-gas-industry-is-behind-offshore-wind-misinformation; M. Freeman, “The Truth About Offshore Wind: Busting Oil Money Myths and Misinformation”, Center for American Progress, 6 June 2023, https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-truth-about-offshore-wind-busting-oil-money-myths-and-misinformation; L. Murphy-Oates and A. Morton, “How Offshore Windfarms Became a Lightning Rod for Misinformation – Full Story Podcast”, The Guardian, 15 November 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2023/nov/16/how-offshore-windfarms-became-a-lightning-rod-for-misinformation-full-story-podcast; Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, pp. 13, 80-95, 96, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024. Policies requiring engagement with local communities, from World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 4, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023. In the United States, there is rising opposition to offshore wind due at least in part to misinformation spread by a network of interest groups funded by the oil and gas industry, from Lutz and Rowland-Shea, op. cit. this note, and from Freeman, op. cit. this note. In the Australian state of New South Wales, misinformation is spreading about wind farms and whales, from Murphy-Oates and Morton, op. cit. this note. According to GWEC, interest groups are actively using social media and technology to spread disinformation on climate change and renewable energy technologies, including wind power, from GWEC, op. cit. this note.28
  29. Figure of 55 in 2023 based on data from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Download GWEC's Global Wind Report 2024”, personal communication with REN21, 16 April 2024, from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030, and from G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May 2024; figure of 45 in 2022 based on data from GWEC, “Global Wind Report 2023”, 2023, unpublished document. At least 57 countries added some capacity in 2023, based on data from International Renewable Energy Agency, “Renewable Capacity Highlights”, 2024, https://prod-cd.irena.org/Publications/2024/Mar/Renewable-capacity-statistics-2024.29
  30. Asia's share includes Türkiye and is based on data from the following: Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document, with adjustments made for European data from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 7, 10, 11, 17, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; additional adjustments to European data from G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May, 2024; adjustments to US data from J. Hensley, American Clean Power, personal communication with REN21, May 2024; World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023. The region's share in 2022 (55%) (which was down from 58% in 2021), based on data from GWEC, op. cit. this note, both sources. 30
  31. Regional shares based on data from the following: Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document; WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May 2024; J. Hensley, American Clean Power, personal communication with REN21, May 2024. Numbers in text are based on regional groupings that include Türkiye as part of Asia, rather than Europe; other regional shares include the Pacific with just under 1% of the total added in 2023 (down from just over 2% of the total added in 2022), and Africa and the Middle East with more than 0.8% (down from 1.9% in 2022), based on data from idem, all sources.31
  32. Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document; WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May 2024; J. Hensley, American Clean Power, personal communication with REN21, May 2024.32
  33. Based on data from the following: Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document; WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May 2024; J. Hensley, American Clean Power, personal communication with REN21, May 2024. Note that the ranking is the same from the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) except that their data puts France ahead of Sweden for additions in 2023, from WWEA, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 10, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023. BloombergNEF has the same top five, followed by Sweden, the United Kingdom, Finland, Canada and the Netherlands, from BloombergNEF, “China's Goldwind Retains Turbine Supplier Lead, as Global Wind Additions Hit New High, According to BloombergNEF”, 27 March 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/chinas-goldwind-retains-turbine-supplier-lead-as-global-wind-additions-hit-new-high-according-to-bloombergnef. Top markets in 2022 and installation levels to rank among top 10 are based on data from the following: GWEC, op. cit. this note (both sources); GWEC, “Global Wind Report 2023”, 2023, unpublished document; American Clean Power, “Clean Power Quarterly 2022 Q4 – Market Report”, February 2023, p. 5, https://cleanpower.org/resources/clean-power-quarterly-market-report-q4-2022; WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023…”, op. cit. this note; Costanzo, op. cit. this note; WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe: 2022 Statistics and the Outlook for 2023-2027”, 2023, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2022-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2023-2027; G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, 13 March 2023. Figure 34 based on country-specific data and sources provided throughout this section, and drawn largely from the following: GWEC, “Global Wind Report 2024”, op. cit. this note; GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, op. cit. this note; WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023…”, op. cit. this note, pp. 10, 11; Costanzo, op. cit. this note, April–May 2024; WWEA, op. cit. this note.33
  34. Based on data from the following: Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document; WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May 2024.34
  35. Based on the following: additions of 75,660 MW, from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document; doubling based on data from GWEC, op. cit. this note (both sources); additions of 75,000 MW for a total of 470,630 MW, from World Wind Energy Association (WWEA), “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 10, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023; net additions of 75.9 GW, from International Renewable Energy Agency, “Renewable Capacity Highlights”, 2024, https://prod-cd.irena.org/Publications/2024/Mar/Renewable-capacity-statistics-2024; additions of an estimated 70 GW from China Electricity Council, cited in “China a Go-Getter, Helper in Carbon Cut”, Xinhua, 21 February 2024, and from National Energy Administration (NEA), cited in “China Beefs Up Renewable Energy to Boost Green Development”, Xinhua, 26 December, 2023, http://english.www.gov.cn/news/202312/26/content_WS658abe16c6d0868f4e8e2892.html; additions of 77.1 GW from BloombergNEF, “China's Goldwind Retains Turbine Supplier Lead, as Global Wind Additions Hit New High, According to BloombergNEF”, 27 March 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/chinas-goldwind-retains-turbine-supplier-lead-as-global-wind-additions-hit-new-high-according-to-bloombergnef; doubled installations relative to 2022, based on 2022 installations from GWEC, op. cit. this note, both sources. China's newly installed capacity, including all capacity that was mechanically installed in 2023, was 79.37 GW, including 72.19 GW onshore and 7,183 MW offshore, from Chinese Wind Energy Association, provided by S. Gsänger, WWEA, personal communication with REN21, 8 May 2024.35
  36. Based on data from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document, from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030, G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May 2024, and from J. Hensley, American Clean Power, personal communication with REN21, May 2024. China's share in 2023 was 66%, from S. Gsanger, World Wind Energy Association (WWEA), personal communication with REN21, 7 May 2024, and in 2022 it was 58%, from WWEA, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 5, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023.36
  37. Bloomberg News, “China's Biggest Wind Companies Squeeze Rivals Out of Record Boom”, 18 February 2024, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-19/china-s-biggest-wind-turbine-makers-squeeze-rivals-out-of-clean-power-boom. 37
  38. Y. Xue, “China Spins Up World's Largest Onshore Wind-power Facility in Inner Mongolia, as It Leads Europe and US in Deployment”, South China Morning Post, 11 December 2023, https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3244677/china-spins-worlds-largest-onshore-wind-power-facility-inner-mongolia-it-leads-europe-and-us. 38
  39. Total capacity based on data from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, and from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document. At end-2023, China had a total of 441,895 MW in operation, of which an estimated 404,605 MW was operating onshore and 37,290 MW was offshore, from International Renewable Energy Agency, “Renewable Capacity Statistics 2024”, 2024, https://prod-cd.irena.org/Publications/2024/Mar/Renewable-capacity-statistics-2024. Government target from E. Ng, “Climate Change: China Sets Another Solar Power Installation Record While Putting the Brakes on Fossil Fuel Capacity”, South China Morning Post, 18 January 2023, https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3207250/climate-change-china-sets-another-solar-power-installation-record-while-putting-brakes-fossil-fuel. Total capacity at the end of 2023 was 474.6 GW, including capacity that was mechanically installed but not necessarily grid-connected, from Chinese Wind Energy Association, provided by S. Gsänger, World Wind Energy Association, personal communication with REN21, 8 May 2024.39
  40. Figure of 9.5% wind power penetration by end of 2023, from Guiyong Yu, Chinese Wind Energy Association (CWEA), presentation for World Wind Energy Association (WWEA), “#WWEAwebinar: Wind Power Around the World”, 10 April 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduI2WPpIIw. Wind penetration was 8.8% by the end of 2022, up from 7.8% in 2021 and 6.1% in 2020; it passed nuclear power in 2018 to become China's third largest source of electricity, after coal and hydropower, all from F. Guo, CWEA, participant in WWEA, “WWEA Webinar: Wind Power Markets Around the World 2023”, Part 1, 27 April 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsRW1y_FwLk. Wind energy accounted for 9.3% of China's electricity mix in 2022, from Ember, cited in S.R. Bhandari, “China Leads, as Wind and Solar Reach Record Power Generation in 2022”, Radio Free Asia, 12 April 2023, https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/china/2023/04/china-230412-rfa03.htm.40
  41. Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 47, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024. China leads the global market for material refining (including steel, aluminium and rare earth materials), as well as the manufacturing of key wind components (including gearboxes (80% of global manufacturing), converters (82%) generators (73%) and castings (82%), from idem.41
  42. Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 47, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024. The country accounts for some 60% of global turbine and component manufacturing capacity, from Y. Xue, “China Spins Up World's Largest Onshore Wind-power Facility in Inner Mongolia, as It Leads Europe and US in Deployment”, South China Morning Post, 11 December 2023, https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3244677/china-spins-worlds-largest-onshore-wind-power-facility-inner-mongolia-it-leads-europe-and-us. China accounts for about 50%, from “China Beefs Up Renewable Energy to Boost Green Development”, Xinhua, 26 December 2023, http://english.www.gov.cn/news/202312/26/content_WS658abe16c6d0868f4e8e2892.html. 42
  43. Figure of 97% from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Wind Turbine Manufacturers See Record Year Driven by Growth in Home Markets”, 9 May 2024, https://gwec.net/wind-turbine-manufacturers-see-record-year-driven-by-growth-in-home-markets; the portion was 98%, from BloombergNEF, “China's Goldwind Retains Turbine Supplier Lead, as Global Wind Additions Hit New High, According to BloombergNEF”, 27 March 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/chinas-goldwind-retains-turbine-supplier-lead-as-global-wind-additions-hit-new-high-according-to-bloombergnef; turning elsewhere and increasing interest from idem; GWEC, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 113, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; installations in 2022 and 2023 from GWEC, op. cit. this note; prices 20% below from BloombergNEF, op. cit. this note. During 2023, China-based firms commissioned 1.7 GW of projects in overseas markets, up almost three-fold since 2018, from idem. By the end of 2023, China had exported wind turbines to 49 countries, from Guiyong Yu, Chinese Wind Energy Association, presentation for World Wind Energy Association, “#WWEAwebinar: Wind Power Around the World”, 10 April 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduI2WPpIIw. 43
  44. Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Wind Turbine Manufacturers See Record Year Driven by Growth in Home Markets”, 9 May 2024, https://gwec.net/wind-turbine-manufacturers-see-record-year-driven-by-growth-in-home-markets; F. Zhao, GWEC, personal communication with REN21, 6 May 2024. The top 15 wind turbine manufacturers in 2023, based on a record 120.7 GW of new capacity mechanically installed and provided by 30 manufacturers, were Goldwind (China, 13.9%), Envision (China, 13.2%), Vestas (Denmark, 10.5%), Windey (China, 8.7%), Mingyang (China, 8.4%), Siemens Gamesa (Germany, 6.4%), GE Vernova (United States, 6.3%), SANY (China, 6.2%), Nordex Group (Germany, 5.7%), Dongfang (China, 4.6%), Sewind (China, 3.8%), CRRC (China, 3.4%), CSSC Haizhuang (China 3.1%), Enercon (Germany, 2.0%) and United Power (China 1.4%), from GWEC, op. cit. this note, from F. Zhao, op. cit. this note, and from GWEC Market Intelligence, “Global Wind Market Development: Supply Side Data 2023”, 2024, unpublished document. The top 10 wind turbine manufacturers, based on 118 GW of total commissioned capacity, were: Goldwind, which supplied 16.4 GW of turbines for projects in 2023, 95% of which were in China, followed by Envision (15.4 GW); Vestas (13.4 GW); Windey (10.4 GW) and Mingyang (9.0 GW), both of China; GE (8.1 GW), which fell from third to sixth, largely due to the decline in the US market; Sany (7.9 GW, China); Siemens Gamesa (7.7 GW), Nordex (6.7 GW) and Dongfang Electric (6.0 GW, China), and Goldwind, Envision and Windey all consolidated their lead in China's market during 2023, accounting for more than half of all turbines installed, and Vestas was the only non-Chinese manufacturer to install turbines in China during 2022 and 2023, all from BloombergNEF, “China's Goldwind Retains Turbine Supplier Lead, as Global Wind Additions Hit New High, According to BloombergNEF”, 27 March 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/chinas-goldwind-retains-turbine-supplier-lead-as-global-wind-additions-hit-new-high-according-to-bloombergnef. Six of the top 10 also were from China in 2022, from BloombergNEF, “Goldwind and Vestas in Photo Finish for Top Spot as Global Wind Power Additions Fall”, 23 March 2023, https://about.bnef.com/blog/goldwind-and-vestas-in-photo-finish-for-top-spot-as-global-wind-power-additions-fall, and from GWEC, “Global Wind Market Development: Supply Side Data 2022”, p. 7, unpublished document.44
  45. Figure of 6.9 GW (gross) added for a total of 150.9 GW, from J. Hensley, American Clean Power, personal communication with REN21, May 2024; net capacity additions based on data from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document, and from Hensley, op. cit. this note. Partial and full repowering data from Hensley, op. cit. this note; capacity factor gains from A. Exarheas, “EIR Looks at the Power of Onshore Wind Repowering”, Rigzone, 20 February 2024, https://www.rigzone.com/news/eir_looks_at_the_power_of_onshore_wind_repowering-20-feb-2024-175808-article. The United States added (net) 6,237.6 MW of utility-scale wind power capacity in 2023 for a year-end total of 145,318.3 MW, from US Energy Information Administration, “Electric Power Monthly with Data for December 2023”, February 2024, Table 6.1, https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/archive/february2024.pdf; the United States added 6,402 MW in 2023 for a total of 150,455 MW, from World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 10, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023; the United States added 7.2 GW in 2023, from BloombergNEF, “China's Goldwind Retains Turbine Supplier Lead, as Global Wind Additions Hit New High, According to BloombergNEF”, 27 March 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/chinas-goldwind-retains-turbine-supplier-lead-as-global-wind-additions-hit-new-high-according-to-bloombergnef.45
  46. Based on data from Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document, from American Clean Power (ACP), “Annual Market Report 2023”, 2024, p. 12, 32, https://cleanpower.org/resources/clean-power-annual-market-report-2023, and from J. Hensley, ACP, personal communication with REN21, May 2024. 46
  47. Inflation, supply-chain challenges and higher borrowing costs from J. Saul and P.A. Rocha, “US Wind Power Is Slowly Making a Comeback After Hitting Rock Bottom”, Bloomberg, 23 January 2024, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-23/us-climate-law-to-refuel-onshore-wind-energy-developments; permitting, interconnection queues and saturation from American Clean Power (ACP), “Annual Market Report 2023”, 7 March 2024, pp. 9, 23, 32, https://cleanpower.org/resources/clean-power-annual-market-report-2023; policy uncertainty from ACP, “NEW REPORT: Record Year for U.S. Clean Power Installations in 2023”, 7 March 2024, https://cleanpower.org/news/market-report-2023; challenges due to delayed rulemaking in Washington, unreliable supply chains, slow permitting (especially for offshore) and grid connection (averaging five years), as well as local fights over project siting, from N. Groom and J. Renshaw, “Biden's Clean Energy Agenda Faces Mounting Headwinds”, Reuters, 24 November 2023, https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bidens-clean-energy-agenda-faces-110503413.html. Capacity of wind power in interconnection queues from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, “Grid Connection Backlog Grows by 30% in 2023, Dominated by Requests for Solar, Wind, and Energy Storage”, 10 April 2024, https://emp.lbl.gov/news/grid-connection-backlog-grows-30-2023-dominated-requests-solar-wind-and-energy-storage.47
  48. Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 133, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024.48
  49. Figures of nearly 10.2% in 2023 based on preliminary data of 425,235 GWh of utility-scale wind generation and 4,178,171 GWh of generation from all utility-scale sources during 2023; down from nearly 10.3% based on 434,297 GWh of utility-scale wind generation and 4,230,672 GWh from all utility-scale sources during 2022, all from US Energy Information Administration (EIA), “Electric Power Monthly with Data for December 2023”, February 2024, Table ES1.B, https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/archive/february2024.pdf; first decline since 1990s from US EIA, “Wind Generation Declined in 2023 for the First Time Since the 1990s”, 30 April 2024, https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61943; El Niño affected wind speeds across the country, from “U.S. Saw Drop in Wind Power Last Year, Despite New Turbines”, YaleEnvironment360, 1 May 2024, https://e360.yale.edu/digest/us-wind-power-drop-2023; capacity factor from US EIA, “Wind Generation Declined…”, op. cit. this note. Wind energy's share of generation declined in 2023 even as total US electricity generation fell by 1.2%, from US EIA, “Electric Power Monthly with Data for December 2023”, op. cit. this note, Table ES1.B; wind's share of generation was 9.9% in 2023, from American Clean Power, “Data Highlights from ACP's Annual Market Report: 2023 Marked Record Year for U.S. Clean Power Installations Solar and Storage Drive Growth”, 7 March 2024, https://cleanpower.org/market-report-2023. 49
  50. American Clean Power, “Annual Market Report 2023”, 2024, p. 7, https://cleanpower.org/market-report-2023. 50
  51. American Clean Power, “Annual Market Report 2023”, 2024, p. 18, https://cleanpower.org/market-report-2023. Capacity under construction included 16,616 MW onshore and 938 MW offshore; the advanced development pipeline included 10,254 MW onshore (up 6 GW relative to 2022) and 18,403 MW offshore (up 1.8 GW), all from idem.51
  52. BloombergNEF, “China's Goldwind Retains Turbine Supplier Lead, as Global Wind Additions Hit New High, According to BloombergNEF”, 27 March 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/chinas-goldwind-retains-turbine-supplier-lead-as-global-wind-additions-hit-new-high-according-to-bloombergnef. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) also helped increase investment in the domestic supply chain, from Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 139, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; the IRA was responsible for a multi-billion dollar US market for repowering, from R. Kessler, “Make America's Old Wind Farms Great Again: Why US Repowering Is Set to Boom”, Recharge News, 8 February 2024, https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/make-americas-old-wind-farms-great-again-why-us-repowering-is-set-to-boom/2-1-1595540. According to one source, developers are turning to repowering rather than new builds, from A. Exarheas, “EIR Looks at the Power of Onshore Wind Repowering”, Rigzone, 20 February 2024, https://www.rigzone.com/news/eir_looks_at_the_power_of_onshore_wind_repowering-20-feb-2024-175808-article.52
  53. Brazil added 4,817 MW for a total of 30,449 MW, from Associação Brasileira de Energia Eólica (Abeeólica), “Evolution of Installed Capacity (in MW)”, accessed 5 March 2024, https://abeeolica.org.br/en/home-english, from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, and from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document. Increase over 2022 based on data from GWEC, op. cit. this note, both sources. Brazil added 4.9 GW, accounting for 47.65% of expansion in Brazil's power mix during 2023, from Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL), cited in P.R. Rodrigues, “Brazil Hits Record Number of New Power Plants”, Valor International, 5 January 2024, https://valorinternational.globo.com/business/news/2024/01/05/brazil-hits-record-number-of-new-power-plants.ghtml; added 4,919 MW for a total of 28,580 MW, from World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 10, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023; and added 5 GW, from BloombergNEF, “China's Goldwind Retains Turbine Supplier Lead, as Global Wind Additions Hit New High, According to BloombergNEF”, 27 March 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/chinas-goldwind-retains-turbine-supplier-lead-as-global-wind-additions-hit-new-high-according-to-bloombergnef. Wind power represents about 15.3% of Brazil's total power capacity in operation at the end of 2023, based on a total capacity of 199.32 GW, from L. Morais, “Brazil Adds 9 GW of Wind and Solar in 2023”, Renewables Now, 3 January 2024, https://renewablesnow.com/news/brazil-adds-9-gw-of-wind-and-solar-in-2023-844723. 53
  54. More than three-fourths (76.5%) based on data from Associação Brasileira de Energia Eólica (Abeeólica), “Evolution of Installed Capacity (in MW)”, accessed 5 March 2024, https://abeeolica.org.br/en/home-english, from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, and from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document.54
  55. Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 145, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024. See, for example, L. Morais, “AES Brasil Signs 154-MW Wind PPA with Microsoft”, Renewables Now, 1 September 2023, https://renewablesnow.com/news/aes-brasil-signs-154-mw-wind-ppa-with-microsoft-832783. 55
  56. Ember, cited in G. Maguire, “Brazil Diversifies Clean Power Sources Away from Hydro”, Reuters, 14 March 2024, https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/brazil-diversifies-clean-power-sources-away-hydro-2024-03-14. 56
  57. E. Feitosa, Eólica, presentation for World Wind Energy Association, “#WWEAwebinar: Wind Power Around the World”, 10 April 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduI2WPpIIw.57
  58. E. Feitosa, Eólica, presentation for World Wind Energy Association, “#WWEAwebinar: Wind Power Around the World”, 10 April 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduI2WPpIIw. Brazil plans to invest USD 10 billion to build thousands of kilometres of transmission lines in two stages, with all implemented within the next four or so years, from idem. Brazil's government considers wind power to be a critical part of Brazil's new energy economy, from Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 109, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024.58
  59. Based on data from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, and from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document.59
  60. India added 2.8 GW in 2023 (up from 1.8 GW in 2022), bringing cumulative capacity to 44.7 GW, from Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), cited in J. Sinha, “India Registers 56% Growth in Wind Installations, Adds 2.8 GW in 2023”, Mercom India, 13 March 2024, https://www.mercomindia.com/india-growth-wind-installations-2023; growth rates based on data from Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document. The leading states are Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, from Sinha, op. cit. this note. India added 3,136 MW in 2023 for a total of 44,736 MW, from World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 10, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023; and added 2.8 GW, from BloombergNEF, “China's Goldwind Retains Turbine Supplier Lead, as Global Wind Additions Hit New High, According to BloombergNEF”, 27 March 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/chinas-goldwind-retains-turbine-supplier-lead-as-global-wind-additions-hit-new-high-according-to-bloombergnef.60
  61. Strongest year based on historical data from Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document; impacts of shift from FITs to reverse auctions from J. Hossain, World Wind Energy Association (WWEA), presentation for WWEA, “#WWEAwebinar: Wind Power Around the World”, 10 April 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduI2WPpIIw.61
  62. Figure of 4.8% based on government data and provided by F. Zhao, Global Wind Energy Council, personal communication with REN21, 6 May 2024. Note that, at least for the first 10 months of 2023, wind's share of generation was close to 5.9%, based on total electricity generation from January through October amounting to 1,251.41 BU and on wind generation of 73,449 MU, from India's Central Electricity Authority, Dashboard, “All India Power Generation from Jan-2023 to Dec-2023”, and “RE Generation (From Jan-2023 to Dec-2023)” (but provides data only through October), accessed 2 May 2024, https://cea.nic.in/%e0%a4%a1%e0%a5%88%e0%a4%b6%e0%a4%ac%e0%a5%8b%e0%a4%b0%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%a1.62
  63. Mercom India Research, cited in G. Hazarika, “Top Wind Energy Tenders in 2023 [infographics]”, Mercom India, 29 December 2023, https://www.mercomindia.com/top-wind-energy-infographics. India's national policies call for 10 GW of onshore wind bids annually through 2027, wind-specific renewable purchase obligations through 2030, and other enablers, from Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 117, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024.63
  64. J. Hossain, World Wind Energy Association (WWEA), presentation for WWEA, “#WWEAwebinar: Wind Power Around the World”, 10 April 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduI2WPpIIw. Across India, demand is rising for wind-solar hybrid projects and hydrogen production, for utility-scale installations as well as for commercial and industrial consumers who need round-the-clock renewable electricity, from idem, and from J. Sinha, “India Registers 56% Growth in Wind Installations, Adds 2.8 GW in 2023”, Mercom India, 13 March 2024, https://www.mercomindia.com/india-growth-wind-installations-2023.64
  65. Estimate from J. Hossain, World Wind Energy Association (WWEA), presentation for WWEA, “#WWEAwebinar: Wind Power Around the World”, 10 April 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduI2WPpIIw. India aims for 50% of its energy to come from non-fossil sources by 2030, with targets of 60 GW of wind power capacity by 2022, 100 GW by 2027, and 140 GW by 2030, from idem. Target of 140 GW by 2030 also from Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 117, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024.65
  66. Based on data from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 7, 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May, 2024; Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; J. Hensley, American Clean Power, personal communication with REN21, May 2024; Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), “New 2023 Data Shows 11.2% Growth for Wind, Solar & Energy Storage”, 31 January 2024; World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 10, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023.66
  67. Based on data from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 7, 10, 11, 17, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030, and on updated statistics for onshore additions in France, from G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May, 2024. All of Europe installed 17,781 MW (13,972 MW onshore and 3,809 MW offshore) in 2023, and decommissioned 736 MW, for a year-end total of 259,996 MW (225,759 MW onshore and 34,237 MW offshore), from idem, both sources. Note that these data do not include Türkiye (added 397 MW for a total of 12, 342 MW, all onshore), which this GSR includes with Asia; they include the installation of 146 MW of new capacity in Ukraine, although most (71%) of the country's total installed capacity (1.9 GW) was not in operation, from idem, pp. 9, 10. Germany was responsible for most decommissioned capacity (534 MW), followed by France (50 MW), Denmark (49 MW), Italy (37 MW), Austria (19 MW), Belgium (17 MW), the United Kingdom (16 MW), Finland (12 MW) and Sweden (2 MW), from WindEurope, op. cit. this note, p. 17. Note that 1.4 GW of new capacity in Europe during 2023 was from repowering: most was in Germany (1,076 MW), with some also in the Netherlands (132 MW), Italy (92 MW), France (69 MW), Austria (12 MW) and Belgium (11 MW). Repowering can triple the output of wind farms, on average, while reducing the number of turbines 25%, all from WindEurope, op. cit. this note, pp. 9, 17.67
  68. Record in 2022 based on data from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe: 2022 Statistics and the Outlook for 2023-2027”, 2023, pp. 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2022-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2023-2027, and from G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, 13 March 2023. Declines of 0.5% and more than 8% based on gross additions in all Europe and gross additions in Germany during 2022 from idem, both sources, and on data for 2023, from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030, and from G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April-May 2024. See also N. Ford, “Germany Sees Jump in Wind Installations as New Laws Hike Activity”, Reuters, 8 February 2024, https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/germany-sees-jump-wind-installations-new-laws-hike-activity-2024-02-08.68
  69. WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 13, 15, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030.69
  70. Top markets and share of installations in Europe based on WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030, and on G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May, 2024; among global top 10 based on data from GWEC, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024. 70
  71. Data for 2023 from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 7, 10, 11, 17, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; data for 2022 from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe: 2022 Statistics and the Outlook for 2023-2027”, 2023, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2022-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2023-2027, and from G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, 13 March 2023 and April-May 2024.71
  72. Based on data from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 9, 17, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030, and from Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May, 2024. Although gross additions in 2023 were slightly higher than those in 2022, net additions in 2023 were slightly lower than net additions in 2022, based on idem and on WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe: 2022 Statistics and the Outlook for 2023-2027”, 2023, pp. 9, 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2022-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2023-2027. Installers in 2023 outside of the EU included the United Kingdom followed distantly by Ukraine (added 146 MW), Serbia (114 MW), North Macedonia (36 MW), Norway (35 MW) and Switzerland (14 MW), from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023…”, op. cit. this note, p. 13.72
  73. Well below needs to meet targets and investments more than doubled from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 8, 13, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; lowest since 2009, from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe: 2022 Statistics and the Outlook for 2023-2027”, 2023, p. 8, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2022-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2023-2027, and from WindEurope, “Europe Invested €17bn in New Wind in 2022, the Lowest Since 2009“, 29 March 2023, https://windeurope.org/newsroom/press-releases/europe-invested-e17bn-in-new-wind-in-2022-the-lowest-since-2009. Below needs to meet targets based on EU renewable energy target of 42.5% by 2030 (reduced in 2023 from 440 GW), and an installed wind power capacity target of 425 GW, which would require annual installations to average 33 GW between 2024 and 2030; total “final investment decisions” in new offshore wind capacity reached a record EUR 30 billion in 2023, all from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023…”, op. cit. this note, p. 13. Note that the EUR 17 billion investment reported by WindEurope for 2022 includes EUR 1 billion in Türkiye and EUR 0.3 billion in Azerbaijan, which this GSR does not classify as being part of Europe; 87% of the EUR 17 billion were in the EU, from WindEurope, “Financing and Investment Trends: The European Wind Industry in 2022”, March 2023, pp. 8, 24, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/financing-and-investment-trends-2022. REPowerEU strategy from WindEurope, “Wind Power Package: Game-changer for Europe's Energy Security”, 24 October 2023), https://windeurope.org/newsroom/press-releases/wind-power-package-game-changer-for-europes-energy-security.73
  74. WindEurope, “Wind Energy Permitting is Improving But Governments Still Have Work to Do”, 8 February 2024, https://windeurope.org/newsroom/press-releases/wind-energy-permitting-is-improving-but-governments-still-have-work-to-do. In 2023, Germany permitted 7.5 GW and Spain approved 3 GW, and permits also were up in France (increase of 12%), the United Kingdom (10%), Greece and Belgium, from idem. See also WindEurope, “Uptake in Permitting and Investments Brings 2030 Wind Target Within Reach”, 28 February 2024, https://windeurope.org/newsroom/press-releases/uptake-in-permitting-and-investments-brings-2030-wind-target-within-reach.74
  75. WindEurope, “Wind Power Package: Game-changer for Europe's Energy Security”, 24 October 2023, https://windeurope.org/newsroom/press-releases/wind-power-package-game-changer-for-europes-energy-security; European Commission, “Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: European Wind Power Action Plan”, 24 October 2023, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52023DC0669&qid=1702455143415; European Commission, “Commission Sets out Immediate Actions to Support the European Wind Power Industry”, 24 October 2023, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_5185. See also European Commission, “An EU Wind Power Action Plan to Keep Wind Power a European Success Story”, 24 October 2023, https://commission.europa.eu/news/eu-wind-power-action-plan-keep-wind-power-european-success-story-2023-10-24_en.75
  76. WindEurope, “EU Governments Commit to Take Urgent Actions Outlined in the Wind Power Package”, 19 December 2023, https://windeurope.org/newsroom/press-releases/eu-governments-commit-to-take-urgent-actions-outlined-in-the-wind-power-package; more than 300 wind power companies, manufacturers and developers also endorsed the Charter, from idem. See also European Commission, “New Wind Charter and National Wind Pledges Underline Ambition for Wind Power in Europe”, 19 December 2023, https://energy.ec.europa.eu/news/new-wind-charter-and-national-wind-pledges-underline-ambition-wind-power-europe-2023-12-19_en.76
  77. S. Gsänger, World Wind Energy Association, personal communication with REN21, 7 May 2024.77
  78. Target of 36 GW annually from WindEurope, “Uptake in Permitting and Investments Brings 2030 Wind Target Within Reach”, 28 February 2024, https://windeurope.org/newsroom/press-releases/uptake-in-permitting-and-investments-brings-2030-wind-target-within-reach; non-price criteria from WindEurope, “EU Enshrines Tighter Pre-qualification Criteria for Wind Farms in Law”, 7 February 2024, https://windeurope.org/newsroom/press-releases/eu-enshrines-tighter-pre-qualification-criteria-for-wind-farms-in-law. See also European Council, “Net-Zero Industry Act: Council and Parliament Strike a Deal to Boost EU's Green Industry”, 6 February 2024, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/02/06/net-zero-industry-act-council-and-parliament-strike-a-deal-to-boost-eu-s-green-industry.78
  79. Awaiting grid connection from WindEurope, “Uptake in Permitting and Investments Brings 2030 Wind Target Within Reach”, 28 February 2024, https://windeurope.org/newsroom/press-releases/uptake-in-permitting-and-investments-brings-2030-wind-target-within-reach, and from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, p. 8, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030. Up to 6 GW of offshore wind power capacity in Germany alone was delayed for up to two years awaiting grid connection, from idem, both sources. Permitting from Kadri Simson, EU energy commissioner, cited in B. Jopson, “The Problem with Europe's Aging Wind Farms”, Financial Times, 23 February 2024, https://www.ft.com/content/7f742d23-673b-47d3-9ce9-64fa5d322abe. Another source says that around 80 GW of wind projects were stuck in permitting queues across the EU, from E. Garcia, “EU Turbine Factory Growth Hangs on Permitting Action”, Reuters Events, 29 November 2023, https://www.reutersevents.com/renewables/wind/eu-turbine-factory-growth-hangs-permitting-action; in France, Italy and Greece it can take 7-8 years to permit a wind farm, from N. Ford, “Germany Sees Jump in Wind Installations as New Laws Hike Activity”, Reuters, 8 February 2024, https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/germany-sees-jump-wind-installations-new-laws-hike-activity-2024-02-08.79
  80. J. Gronholt-Pedersen and K. Abnett, “Europe's Wind Power Goal Hits New Snag: Security”, Reuters, 26 October 2023, https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/europes-wind-power-goal-hits-new-snag-security-2023-10-26. 80
  81. Based on data from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 7, 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May, 2024; Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; Geschäftsstelle der Arbeitsgruppe Erneuerbare Energien-Statistik (AGEE-Stat) am Umweltbundesamt, “Erneuerbare Energien in Deutschland: Daten zur Entwicklung im Jahr 2023”, March 2024, pp. 9, 20, https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/erneuerbare-energien-in-deutschland-2023; J. Hensley, American Clean Power, personal communication with REN21, May 2024; World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 10, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023.81
  82. WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 31, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030. Germany added 3,567 MW onshore and 360 MW offshore (and decommissioned 534 MW) for a year-end total of 69,675 MW (including 61,139 MW onshore and 8,536 MW offshore), from idem. Germany added 3,028 MW onshore in 2023, a 44% increase relative to 2022, but well below the record in 2017 (4,891 MW); total onshore capacity at year's end was 61,016 MW and offshore was 8,458 MW. In addition Germany added 258 MW offshore, all from Geschäftsstelle der Arbeitsgruppe Erneuerbare Energien-Statistik (AGEE-Stat) am Umweltbundesamt, “Erneuerbare Energien in Deutschland: Daten zur Entwicklung im Jahr 2023”, March 2024, pp. 9, 20, https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/erneuerbare-energien-in-deutschland-2023. Germany added 3,233 MW for a total of 69,475 MW, from World Wind Energy Association (WWEA), “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 10, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023; added 3.8 GW for a total of 69.5 GW, from Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document; and added 4.2 GW, from BloombergNEF, “China's Goldwind Retains Turbine Supplier Lead, as Global Wind Additions Hit New High, According to BloombergNEF”, 27 March 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/chinas-goldwind-retains-turbine-supplier-lead-as-global-wind-additions-hit-new-high-according-to-bloombergnef. Germany installed 3,567 MW (gross) onshore and 329 MW offshore (including capacity modifications of existing plants) in 2023, with 534 MW decommissioned, resulting in 3,362 GW of net additions (3,033 MW onshore and 329 MW offshore) and total year-end capacity of 69,475 GW (61,010 MW onshore, 8,465 MW offshore), from Deutsche WindGuard, “Status of Onshore Wind Energy Development in Germany Year 2023”, 2024, https://www.windguard.com/publications-wind-energy-statistics.html, and from Deutsche WindGuard, “Status of Offshore Wind Energy Development in Germany Year 2023”, 2024, https://www.windguard.com/publications-wind-energy-statistics.html. Germany's year-end capacity was 66,242 MW (58,106 MW onshore and 8.5 GW offshore), from C. Reeker, German Wind Energy Association / BWE, presentation for WWEA, “#WWEAwebinar: Wind Power Around the World”, 10 April 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduI2WPpIIw. About one-third (1.1 GW) of onshore installations in 2023 were repowering projects, from N. Ford, “Germany Sees Jump in Wind Installations as New Laws Hike Activity”, Reuters, 8 February 2024, https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/germany-sees-jump-wind-installations-new-laws-hike-activity-2024-02-08.82
  83. Figure of 48% based on data for 2023 from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030, and for 2022 from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe: 2022 Statistics and the Outlook for 2023-2027”, February 2023, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030, and from G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, 13 March 2023; highest since 2017 and that year's peak, based on data from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, and on historical data from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document; last year of FIT from WindEurope, “Wind in Power 2017: Annual Combined Onshore and Offshore Wind Statistics”, February 2018, p. 18, https://windeurope.org/wp-content/uploads/files/about-wind/statistics/WindEurope-Annual-Statistics-2017.pdf. See also C. Reeker, German Wind Energy Association / BWE, presentation for World Wind Energy Association, “#WWEAwebinar: Wind Power Around the World”, 10 April 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduI2WPpIIw.83
  84. N. Ford, “Germany Sees Jump in Wind Installations as New Laws Hike Activity”, Reuters, 8 February 2024, https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/germany-sees-jump-wind-installations-new-laws-hike-activity-2024-02-08; AGEE-Stat am Umweltbundesamt, “Erneuerbare Energien in Deutschland: Daten zur Entwicklung im Jahr 2023”, March 2024, p. 9, https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/erneuerbare-energien-in-deutschland-2023; C. Reeker, German Wind Energy Association / BWE, presentation for World Wind Energy Association, “#WWEAwebinar: Wind Power Around the World”, 10 April 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduI2WPpIIw.84
  85. N. Ford, “Germany Sees Jump in Wind Installations as New Laws Hike Activity”, Reuters, 8 February 2024, https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/germany-sees-jump-wind-installations-new-laws-hike-activity-2024-02-08. The capacity granted permitting in 2023 totalled 7.5 GW, up from 4.3 GW in 2022, from idem. See also E. Garcia, “EU Turbine Factory Growth Hangs on Permitting Action”, Reuters Events, 29 November 2023, https://www.reutersevents.com/renewables/wind/eu-turbine-factory-growth-hangs-permitting-action, and Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 140, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024.85
  86. S. Gsänger, World Wind Energy Association, personal communication with REN21, 7-8 May, 2024. A number of German states, most recently the most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia, have introduced community energy legislation that mandates specific means for advancing community engagement, from idem.86
  87. The Netherlands added 2,433 MW (527 MW onshore and 1,906 MW offshore) for a total of 11,493 MW (6,754 MW onshore and 4,739 MW offshore), from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, 14, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030. Global ranking based on data from Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024. The Netherlands added 1.5 GW in 2023, ranking tenth for additions, from BloombergNEF, “China's Goldwind Retains Turbine Supplier Lead, as Global Wind Additions Hit New High, According to BloombergNEF”, 27 March 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/chinas-goldwind-retains-turbine-supplier-lead-as-global-wind-additions-hit-new-high-according-to-bloombergnef. 87
  88. WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, p. 10, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030. The Netherlands added 2,800 MW in 2023 for a total of 11,015 MW, from World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 10, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023.88
  89. Government of the Netherlands, “Offshore Wind: The Netherlands Well on Schedule, Tender Round to Double Capacity Will Start Early 2024”, 20 December 2023, https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2023/12/19/offshore-wind-the-netherlands-well-on-schedule-tender-round-to-double-capacity-will-start-early-2024. The target for 2023 was set under the 2013 Energy Agreement, from idem. Note that in April 2024 a target date for the end of 2031 was postponed to the end of 2032, from A. Memija, “Netherlands to Miss 2031 Offshore Wind Target”, Offshore Wind Biz, 29 April 2024, https://www.offshorewind.biz/2024/04/29/netherlands-to-miss-2031-offshore-wind-target. 89
  90. Sweden added 1,973 MW in 2023, from Svensk Vindenergi / Swedish Wind Energy Association, “Statistics and Forecast Q4 2023”, 9 February 2024, p. 2, https://swedishwindenergy.com/statistics, and added 1,973 MW for a total of 16,441 MW, from “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, p. 10, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; added 1,973 MW to place eighth for additions and for a total of 16,251 MW, from World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 10, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023; and added 2.6 GW to rank sixth worldwide, from BloombergNEF, “China's Goldwind Retains Turbine Supplier Lead, as Global Wind Additions Hit New High, According to BloombergNEF”, 27 March 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/chinas-goldwind-retains-turbine-supplier-lead-as-global-wind-additions-hit-new-high-according-to-bloombergnef. 90
  91. Rankings based on data from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030, and from Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024.91
  92. WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, p. 38, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030.92
  93. Increase based on 34.5 TWh generated in 2023, from Svensk Vindenergi / Swedish Wind Energy Association, “Statistics and Forecast Q4 2023”, 9 February 2024, p. 2, https://swedishwindenergy.com/statistics, and on 33 TWh generated in 2022, from A. Wickmann, Swedish Wind Power Association, in World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Webinar: Wind Power Markets Around the World 2023”, Part 1, 27 April 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsRW1y_FwLk.93
  94. Second strongest from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 14, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; global ranking based on data from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, and from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document. The strongest year was 2022, when France added 2.1 GW; in 2023, 50 MW of capacity was decommissioned, all from WindEurope, op. cit. this note, pp. 14, 17. Note that France placed 11th in 2023, from BloombergNEF, “China's Goldwind Retains Turbine Supplier Lead, as Global Wind Additions Hit New High, According to BloombergNEF”, 27 March 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/chinas-goldwind-retains-turbine-supplier-lead-as-global-wind-additions-hit-new-high-according-to-bloombergnef.94
  95. France added 1,592 MW (1,232 MW onshore and 360 MW offshore) for a total of 22,624 MW (21,782 MW onshore and 842 MW offshore), from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 14, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030, and from G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May, 2024. In 2023, 50 MW of capacity was decommissioned, from WindEurope, op. cit. this note, pp. 14, 17. France added 2,559 MW in 2023 for a total of 23,474 MW, from World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 10, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023; and added 1.4 GW, from BloombergNEF, “China's Goldwind Retains Turbine Supplier Lead, as Global Wind Additions Hit New High, According to BloombergNEF”, 27 March 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/chinas-goldwind-retains-turbine-supplier-lead-as-global-wind-additions-hit-new-high-according-to-bloombergnef.95
  96. WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, p. 39, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030. France's Renewable Acceleration Law entered into force in March 2023, from idem.96
  97. WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, p. 24 https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030. Capacity awarded in France was 3.2 GW onshore and 1 GW offshore, from idem.97
  98. Figures of 50.7 TWh and 10.2%, from Le réseau de transport d'électricité (Rte), “Bilan Électrique 2023 – Principaux Résultats”, 7 February 2024, pp. 5, 35, https://www.rte-france.com/recherche?query=Bilan%20Electrique%202024. An estimated 11% of generation based on data from ENTSO-E, from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, p. 19, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030.98
  99. Figures of 17.5% and 36.4% and global ranking based on data from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, and from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document; fifth in Europe and annual additions from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030.99
  100. WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 14, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030. The United Kingdom added 533 MW onshore and 833 MW offshore, and the country decommissioned 16 MW, for a year-end total of 29,622 MW (14,866 MW onshore and 14,756 MW offshore), from idem, pp. 11, 17; added 1,452 MW (placing tenth) for a total of 30,215 MW, from World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 10, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023; added 0.5 GW onshore and 0.8 GW offshore, from UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, “Energy Trends: October to December 2023 and 2023”, 28 March 2024, p. 16, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/660430e1f9ab410011eea3e4/Energy_Trends_March_2024.pdf; and added 1.8 GW total (to place seventh globally), from BloombergNEF, “China's Goldwind Retains Turbine Supplier Lead, as Global Wind Additions Hit New High, According to BloombergNEF”, 27 March 2024, https://about.bnef.com/blog/chinas-goldwind-retains-turbine-supplier-lead-as-global-wind-additions-hit-new-high-according-to-bloombergnef.100
  101. Based on data from UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, “Energy Trends”, cited in “UK Wind Generation Hits Record Levels”, Renews, 28 March 2024, https://renews.biz/92211/uk-wind-generation-hits-record-levels.101
  102. Ember, “European Electricity Review 2023”, 2023, p. 53, https://ember-climate.org/app/uploads/2023/01/Report-European-Electricity-Review-2023.pdf; WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe”, various editions.102
  103. Figures of up 3% over 2022 and 19% in 2023, and record generation, from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 9, 18, 35, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030. The wind generated 466 TWh of electricity in 2023; EU wind conditions were less favourable than in previous years, especially in northern Europe (reducing offshore capacity factors), but record additions of onshore wind capacity compensated for low winds, all from idem. Note that utilities across all of Europe generated more electricity from wind power (193 TWh) than from coal-fired power plants (184 TWh) from October through November, from Ember, cited in G. Maguire, “Wind Overtakes Coal for Electricity Generation in Europe”, Reuters, 10 January 2024, https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/wind-overtakes-coal-electricity-generation-europe-2024-01-09.103
  104. Data for all countries, except for the United Kingdom and Germany, from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, p. 19, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030. Another 10 countries met 10% or more of their electricity with the wind, from idem. Note that WindEurope data for national shares of electricity mix in each country represent the average of the share of wind in final electricity demand, captured hourly from ENTSO-E and corrected with data from national transmission system operators and governments, from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe: 2022 Statistics and the Outlook for 2023-2027”, 2023, p. 19, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2022-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2023-2027. In the United Kingdom, wind energy generated 82 TWh (up 2.2%) in 2023, despite unfavourable winds during the year, accounting for 28.7% of generation, based on data for generation onshore and offshore in 2022 (80,257 GWh) and 2023 (81,989 GWh), and shares of electricity generated by onshore (11.4% in 2023, up from 10.9% in 2022) and offshore (17.4%, up from 14% in 2022) wind, from UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (UK DESNZ), “Table 6.1. Renewable Electricity Capacity and Generation”, 28 March 2024, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66043060f9ab410011eea3e2/ET_6.1_MAR_24.xlsx. Note that total UK electricity production (-11%) and consumption both fell during the year relative to 2022, and that onshore wind generation declined 7.9%, whereas offshore generation increased 10.1%, all from UK DESNZ, “Energy Trends: October to December 2023 and 2023”, 28 March 2024, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/660430e1f9ab410011eea3e4/Energy_Trends_March_2024.pdf. Figure of 27% for Germany from AGEE-Stat am Umweltbundesamt, “Erneuerbare Energien in Deutschland: Daten zur Entwicklung im Jahr 2023”, March 2024, p. 9, https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/erneuerbare-energien-in-deutschland-2023. The total load in Germany declined 4% in 2023, while wind energy generation rose 14% (19% increase from onshore wind; 5% decrease from offshore wind, due largely to curtailment) to 142.1 TWh, making wind energy Germany's most important electricity source. The significant growth in wind energy output was due in part to higher average wind speeds during 2023 compared to the relatively poor winds experienced during the previous two years, all from idem. Note that Germany's onshore generation from wind fell in 2023, but the share of demand of total onshore and offshore wind output rose five percentage points, to 31%,from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023…”, op. cit. this note, pp. 19, 20. Wind energy accounted for 25.9% of Germany's electricity generation, from C. Reeker, German Wind Energy Association / BWE, presentation for World Wind Energy Association, “#WWEAwebinar: Wind Power Around the World”, 10 April 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduI2WPpIIw. 104
  105. Germany ended the year with 69,675 MW, followed by Spain (30,569 MW), the United Kingdom (29,622 MW), France (22,624 MW) and Sweden (16,441 MW), based on data from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030, and from G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, 2024. The five top countries for total capacity together amounted to 65% of Europe's total wind power capacity at the end of 2023, from idem, both sources.105
  106. Since 2018 based on data from REN21, “Renewables Global Status Report”, various editions; ninth after France based on data from Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024. 106
  107. Installations in 2023 and short of net zero targets from Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), “New 2023 Data Shows 11.2% Growth for Wind, Solar & Energy Storage”, 31 January 2024, https://renewablesassociation.ca/news-release-new-2023-data-shows-11-2-growth-for-wind-solar-energy-storage; 71% increase over 2022 and most since 2014 based on data from Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document.107
  108. Alberta added 1,671 MW, the Yukon increased its capacity from 0.2 MW to 4 MW, the Northwest Territories added 3.2 MW, and New Brunswick added 42 MW, from Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), “New 2023 Data Shows 11.2% Growth for Wind, Solar & Energy Storage”, 31 January 2024, https://renewablesassociation.ca/news-release-new-2023-data-shows-11-2-growth-for-wind-solar-energy-storage. There were no additions of wind or solar power capacity in the other regions, from idem.108
  109. Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), “New 2023 Data Shows 11.2% Growth for Wind, Solar & Energy Storage”, 31 January 2024. Total year-end capacity was 16,986.3 MW, from idem. Canada added 1,774 MW for a total of 16,986 MW, from World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Annual Report 2023”, 2024, p. 10, https://wwindea.org/AnnualReport2023.109
  110. Figures of 6.4% in 2023 and 6.1% in 2022 based on data for total electricity generation and wind generation during January-December 2023 and in January-December 2022, from Statistics Canada, “Electrical Power Generation, Monthly Generation by Type of Electricity”, Table 25-10-0015-01, https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=2510001501. 110
  111. Number of countries in Europe from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; number of countries in Asia from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; capacity based on data from idem, both sources, from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document, and from G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May 2024. Note that 10.8 GW of offshore capacity was added to the grid for total of 75.2 GW, additions were up 24% over 2022 to second highest year yet for offshore wind, all from GWEC, “Global Wind Report 2024”, op. cit. this note, pp. 14, 141.111
  112. Based on data from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document, from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030, and from G. Costanzo, WindEurope, personal communication with REN21, April–May 2024.112
  113. Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, pp. 14, 15, 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document. China was followed in the region by Taiwan (692 MW), Japan (62 MW) and the Republic of Korea (4 MW), from idem, both sources.113
  114. Figure of 25% based on data for 2022 and 2023 from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document, and from GWEC, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024. Rush to commission and pandemic-related restrictions from the following: GWEC, “Global Offshore Wind Report 2022”, 2022, p. 7, https://gwec.net/gwecs-global-offshore-wind-report; GWEC, “Global Wind Report 2023”, 2023, pp. 52, 106, https://gwec.net/globalwindreport2023; F. Guo, Chinese Wind Energy Association, participant in World Wind Energy Association, “WWEA Webinar: Wind Power Markets Around the World 2023”, Part 1, 27 April 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsRW1y_FwLk; N. Weekes, “Bumper Year-End for Chinese Offshore Wind as Feed-in Tariff Expires”, Windpower Monthly, 5 January 2022, https://www.windpowermonthly.com/article/1736674/bumper-year-end-chinese-offshore-wind-feed-in-tariff-expires. Other sources blame the end of government subsidies for the decline offshore in 2022; see, for example, E. Ng, “Climate Change: China Sets Another Solar Power Installation Record While Putting the Brakes on Fossil Fuel Capacity”, South China Morning Post, 18 January 2023, https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3207250/climate-change-china-sets-another-solar-power-installation-record-while-putting-brakes-fossil-fuel. 114
  115. Based on data from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, and from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document.115
  116. Japan added 62 MW offshore and the Republic of Korea added 4 MW, from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, and from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document.116
  117. Maritime Executive, “Japan's Largest Offshore Wind Farm Starts Commercial Operations”, 4 January 2024, https://maritime-executive.com/article/japan-s-largest-offshore-wind-farm-starts-commercial-operations. Japan aims to have at least 10 GW of offshore wind power capacity in the pipeline by 2030 and up to 45 GW of capacity by 2040, from idem.117
  118. India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), “Year End Review 2023 of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy”, 3 January 2024, https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1992732; I. Shumkov, “India Outlines Offshore Wind Auction Trajectory for 37 GW by 2030”, Renewables Now, 23 August 2023, https://renewablesnow.com/news/india-outlines-offshore-wind-auction-trajectory-for-37-gw-by-2030-831873; J. Casey, “Mainstream Renewable Power Awarded Development Rights for 440 MW of Onshore Wind in the Philippines”, Energy Global, 12 March 2024, https://www.energyglobal.com/wind/12032024/mainstream-renewable-power-awarded-development-rights-for-440-mw-of-onshore-wind-in-the-philippines. Both projects in the Philippines had begun early-stage development by March 2024, from idem.118
  119. Decline in 2022 (lowest since 2016) from WindEurope, “Offshore Wind Energy 2022 Statistics”, 2023, p. 4; record year in 2023 from WindEurope, “Lots of Good News – and Good Numbers – Again in Offshore Wind”, 18 January 2024, https://windeurope.org/newsroom/press-releases/lots-of-good-news-and-good-numbers-again-in-offshore-wind; all of Europe added 3,809 MW (the EU installed 2,941 MW), from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030. 119
  120. WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, 16, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030. Half of capacity based on 1,906 MW added in the Netherlands and a total of 3,809 MW added in all of Europe, from idem. The largest wind farm as of the end of 2023 was the Netherlands' newly completed 1.5-GW Hollandse Kust Zuid 1-4.120
  121. WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 13, 16, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030. In addition, Spain brought online a 2-MW demonstration project, the DemoSATH (a floating barge) off the coast of Bilbao, from idem. Norway's Hywind Tampen project is to provide electricity (about 35%) for offshore oil and gas fields, from Equinor, “The World's Largest Floating Offshore Wind Farm Officially Opened”, 23 August 2023, https://www.equinor.com/news/20230823-hywind-tampen-officially-opened. 121
  122. WindEurope, “Lots of Good News – and Good Numbers – Again in Offshore Wind”, 18 January 2024, https://windeurope.org/newsroom/press-releases/lots-of-good-news-and-good-numbers-again-in-offshore-wind. Among the projects is Poland's first commercial offshore wind farm (1.2 GW Baltic Power project); in addition, new factories were announced in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain, all from idem. Currency conversions using OANDA Currency Converter (https://www.oanda.com/currency-converter/en) for date of 31 December 2023. 122
  123. United Kingdom from M. Mace, “Renewables Produced Enough Clean Energy to Power Every UK Home in 2023”, Edie, 2 January 2024, https://www.edie.net/renewables-produced-enough-clean-energy-to-power-every-uk-home-in-2023, and from W. Mathis, “Key UK Offshore Wind Project Axed in Blow to Climate Plans”, Bloomberg, 20 July 2023, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-20/vattenfall-stops-uk-offshore-wind-farm-plans-due-to-costs; 4C Offshore, “Flagship – Metcentre Floating Wind Farm – 08 February 2024: Iberdrola's FLAGSHIP Project Has Been Cancelled”, accessed 12 April 2024, https://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/norway/flagship---metcentre-norway-no63.html; Flagship Project, “What is FLAGSHIP?” accessed 12 April 2024, https://www.flagshiproject.eu/the-project; T. Solsvik, “Equinor Puts Norwegian Trollvind Offshore Wind Farm on Hold”, Reuters, 22 May 2023, https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/equinor-puts-norwegian-trollvind-offshore-wind-farm-hold-2023-05-22. 123
  124. WindEurope, “Lots of Good News – and Good Numbers – Again in Offshore Wind”, 18 January 2024, https://windeurope.org/newsroom/press-releases/lots-of-good-news-and-good-numbers-again-in-offshore-wind; WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, p. 25, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030. Price ceilings under the Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 5 (AR5) were GBP 44 per MWh (EUR 50.6/MWh) for bottom-fixed offshore wind and GBP 116 per MWh (EUR 133.4 per MWh) for floating offshore wind; they were increased under the CfD AR6 to GBP 73 per MWh (EUR 83.9 per MWh) for bottom-fixed offshore wind and to GBP 176 per MWh (EUR 202.3 per MWh) for floating offshore wind, from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe…”, op. cit. this note.124
  125. WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030. Europe's total was 34,032 MW, with 43% of this capacity in the United Kingdom and 24% in Germany, from Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, pp. 15, 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024.125
  126. Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 15, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024.126
  127. N. Ford, “Offshore Wind in Europe Needs Urgent Factory Aid to Hit Targets”, Reuters Events, 21 June 2023, https://www.reutersevents.com/renewables/wind/offshore-wind-europe-needs-urgent-factory-aid-hit-targets. Among the targets, Poland aims for 18 GW offshore by 2040, from WindEurope, “Lots of Good News – and Good Numbers – Again in Offshore Wind”, 18 January 2024, https://windeurope.org/newsroom/press-releases/lots-of-good-news-and-good-numbers-again-in-offshore-wind; Greece released a draft plan to install 2 GW by 2030, from Euro News, “‘A National Priority': Greece Is Powering Ahead with Plans for First Offshore Wind Farms”, 2 November 2023, https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/11/01/a-national-priority-greece-is-powering-ahead-with-plans-for-first-offshore-wind-farms; the German Offshore Wind Energy Act calls for at least 30 GW of grid-connected offshore capacity by 2030, at least 40 GW by 2035, and at least 70 GW by 2045, from Deutsche WindGuard, “Status of Offshore Wind Energy Development in Germany Year 2023”, 2024, p. 4, https://www.windguard.com/publications-wind-energy-statistics.html.127
  128. WindEurope, “Lots of Good News – and Good Numbers – Again in Offshore Wind”, 18 January 2024, https://windeurope.org/newsroom/press-releases/lots-of-good-news-and-good-numbers-again-in-offshore-wind. It is estimated that Europe will need to build 24 GW of wind power capacity per year from 2027-2030 to reach 2030 targets, from idem. US developers also rely on the European supply chain, adding to Europe's challenge, from N. Ford, “Offshore Wind in Europe Needs Urgent Factory Aid to Hit Targets”, Reuters Events, 21 June 2023, https://www.reutersevents.com/renewables/wind/offshore-wind-europe-needs-urgent-factory-aid-hit-targets.128
  129. The New York South Fork Wind project became the first utility-scale offshore wind farm in the United States to generate electricity (December) with completion of two turbines in federal waters in December 2023; eventually the project will reach 130 MW, from M. Lewis, “In a Historic First, a US Offshore Wind Farm Delivers Power to the Grid”, Electrek, 6 December 2023, https://electrek.co/2023/12/06/us-first-utility-scale-offshore-wind-farm-first-power-south-fork. On 2 January 2024, the Vineyard Wind 1 project off the coast of Massachusetts began supplying electricity to the grid with the first 6 of 62 turbines; once complete, the project will be 806 MW, from M. Shenk, “US Plugs in First Large Offshore Wind Farm as Developers Play Catch-up”, OE Digital, 18 January 2024, https://www.oedigital.com/news/510908-us-plugs-in-first-large-offshore-wind-farm-as-developers-play-catch-up.129
  130. American Journal of Transportation, “Louisiana Signs Agreements to Build First Offshore Wind Farms in State Waters”, 18 December 2023, https://www.ajot.com/news/louisiana-signs-agreements-to-build-first-offshore-wind-farms-in-state-waters. The state of Louisana aims for at least 5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2035, from idem. In 2023, the first bids took place for federal leases in the Gulf of Mexico, including sites off the Texas coast, but bids were received only for Louisiana, from H. Parker, “Few Bid After U.S. Opens First-Ever Offshore Wind Leases in the Gulf of Mexico”, MBHM, 29 August 2023, https://wbhm.org/2023/few-bid-after-u-s-opens-first-ever-offshore-wind-leases-in-the-gulf-of-mexico. California law from American Clean Power, “Annual Market Report 2023”, 2024, p. 43, https://cleanpower.org/resources/clean-power-annual-market-report-2023; target of 25 GW by 2045 was announced at COP 28 in Dubai, when California joined the Global Offshore Wind Alliance, from California Energy Commission, “California Joins Global Offshore Wind Alliance in Ambitious Commitment”, 5 December 2023, https://www.energy.ca.gov/news/2023-12/california-joins-global-offshore-wind-alliance-ambitious-commitment; Global Offshore Wind Alliance, “Overview”, International Renewable Energy Agency, accessed 30 April 2024, https://www.irena.org/Energy-Transition/Partnerships/GOWA. 130
  131. American Clean Power, “Annual Market Report 2023”, 2024, pp. 41, 42, https://cleanpower.org/resources/clean-power-annual-market-report-2023. In 2023, Maryland set a target of 8.5 GW by 2031, and Maine set target of up to 3 GW of floating offshore wind capacity in federal waters by 2040. Other states with procurement targets include California (25 GW), New Jersey (11 GW), New York (9 GW), North Carolina (8 GW), Massachusetts (5.6 GW), Virginia (5.2 GW), Louisiana (5 GW), Connecticut (2.3 GW) and Rhode Island (1.4 GW); in addition, new procurement in 2023 totalled 4,032 MW, but the net total declined due to 5,488 MW of cancellations during the year, all from idem.131
  132. Figure of 12 GW from C. Crownhart, “What's Next for Offshore Wind”, Technology Review, 10 January 2024, https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/01/10/1086354/whats-next-for-offshore-wind; half the pipeline from M. Gallucci, “After a Brutal 2023, Offshore Wind Looks to Overcome Growing Pains”, Canary Media, 21 December 2023, https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/wind/after-a-brutal-2023-offshore-wind-looks-to-overcome-growing-pains; reasons for cancellations from M. Shenk, “US Plugs in First Large Offshore Wind Farm as Developers Play Catch-up”, OE Digital, 18 January 2024, https://www.oedigital.com/news/510908-us-plugs-in-first-large-offshore-wind-farm-as-developers-play-catch-up, and from N. Groom and J. Renshaw, “Biden's Clean Energy Agenda Faces Mounting Headwinds”, Reuters, 24 November 2023, https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bidens-clean-energy-agenda-faces-110503413.html. Approximately 5.5 GW of contracts were cancelled during the year and there were efforts to renegotiate contracts for 6.5 GW, from Gallucci, op. cit. this note. Another source says that, as of late 2023, of the 21.6 GW awarded or signed, about one-fourth had been cancelled and almost another one-third was at risk, from C. Ryan, “The Bill for Offshore Wind Power Is Rising”, Wall Street Journal, 22 November 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/the-bill-for-offshore-wind-power-is-rising/ar-AA1klBRh. See also Groom and Renshaw, op. cit. this note. For more on the US situation, see also: R. Dickstein, “Inflation, High Interest Rates Force Ørsted to Pull Out of Maryland Offshore Wind Deal”, WMAR2 News, 29 January 2024, https://www.wmar2news.com/local/inflation-high-interest-rates-force-%C3%B8rsted-to-pull-out-of-skipjack-wind-projects-near-ocean-city; H. Richards, “Offshore Wind Faces More Financial Turbulence in 2024”, E&E News, 8 January 2024, https://www.eenews.net/articles/offshore-wind-faces-more-financial-turbulence-in-2024; L. Paulsson, W. Wade and J. Dlouhy, “Why Wind Power Industry Is Stumbling and What Can Be Done”, Bloomberg, 3 November 2023, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-03/why-is-there-a-crisis-in-wind-power; B. Storrow, “Breakups and Buyouts: Offshore Wind Has a New Look”, E&E News, 16 February 2024, https://www.eenews.net/articles/breakups-and-buyouts-offshore-wind-has-a-new-look.132
  133. Lack of supply chain and resulting impacts from M. Shenk, “US Plugs in First Large Offshore Wind Farm as Developers Play Catch-up”, OE Digital, 18 January 2024, https://www.oedigital.com/news/510908-us-plugs-in-first-large-offshore-wind-farm-as-developers-play-catch-up; slowed investment from H. Richards, “Offshore Wind Faces More Financial Turbulence in 2024”, E&E News, 8 January 2024, https://www.eenews.net/articles/offshore-wind-faces-more-financial-turbulence-in-2024. See, for example, B. Finley, “Siemens Gamesa Scraps Plans to Build Blades for Offshore Wind Turbines on Virginia's Coast”, Renewable Energy World, 13 November 2023, https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/wind-power/siemens-gamesa-scraps-plans-to-build-blades-for-offshore-wind-turbines-on-virginias-coast. According to one source, global offshore costs are down 66% from 2009, but they are higher in the United States in part due to the immature supply chain, from C. Ryan, “The Bill for Offshore Wind Power Is Rising”, Wall Street Journal, 22 November 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/the-bill-for-offshore-wind-power-is-rising/ar-AA1klBRh. Federal tax credits from B. Mohl, “Ominous Offshore Wind News from Rhode Island”, Commonwealth Magazine, 20 July 2023, https://commonwealthmagazine.org/energy/ominous-offshore-wind-news-from-rhode-island-2; lack of US installation vessels from Shenk, op. cit. this note, and from C. Crownhart, “What's Next for Offshore Wind”, Technology Review, 10 January 2024, https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/01/10/1086354/whats-next-for-offshore-wind; multi-year delays from H. Richards, “Offshore Wind Is at a Crossroads. Here's What You Need to Know”, E&E News, 13 November 2023, https://www.eenews.net/articles/offshore-wind-is-at-a-crossroads-heres-what-you-need-to-know. The US Jones Act requires that developers use American-made vessels to transport goods in and out of US ports, but the country does not yet have a specialized wind turbine installation vessel, forcing developers to use barges to transport equipment to foreign-flagged installation vessels offshore, from Shenk, op. cit. this note.133
  134. Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island signed a memorandum of understanding to procure up to 6 GW of offshore wind power capacity to capture cost reductions by achieving scale and co-ordinating regional development, from “New England States Make 6GW Offshore Wind Pact”, Renews, 4 October 2023, https://renews.biz/88617/new-england-states-make-6gw-offshore-wind-pact. In addition, nine east coast states (Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island) and four US federal agencies signed an agreement to strengthen collaboration on development of offshore supply chain, from “US Launches East Coast Offshore Cooperation”, Renews, 21 September 2023, https://renews.biz/88354/us-launches-east-coast-offshore-cooperation. However, some experts believe that the Biden administration's goal of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind power capacity by 2030 is now unattainable, from N. Groom and J. Renshaw, “Biden's Clean Energy Agenda Faces Mounting Headwinds”, Reuters, 24 November 2023, https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bidens-clean-energy-agenda-faces-110503413.html. See also D.R. Baker, S. Kishan and J.A. Dlouhy, “A $30 Billion Meltdown in Clean Energy Puts Biden's Climate Goals at Risk”, MSN, 29 November 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/a-30-billion-meltdown-in-clean-energy-puts-biden-s-climate-goals-at-risk/ar-AA1kKwBk; R. Dickstein, “Inflation, High Interest Rates Force Ørsted to Pull Out of Maryland Offshore Wind Deal”, WMAR2 News, 29 January 2024, https://www.wmar2news.com/local/inflation-high-interest-rates-force-%C3%B8rsted-to-pull-out-of-skipjack-wind-projects-near-ocean-city. States offered to rebid and inflation-adjustment from M. Gallucci, “After a Brutal 2023, Offshore Wind Looks to Overcome Growing Pains”, Canary Media, 21 December 2023, https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/wind/after-a-brutal-2023-offshore-wind-looks-to-overcome-growing-pains; late February and up to 15.5 GW from T. Casey, “US Offshore Wind Industry Comes Roaring Back, Part Infinity”, CleanTechnica, 22 February 2024, https://cleantechnica.com/2024/02/22/us-offshore-wind-industry-comes-roaring-back-part-infinity; cancellation of GE 18 MW turbine from B. Storrow and H. Richards, “How the Death of a Mega-turbine Rattled US Offshore Wind”, EE News, 22 April 2024, https://www.eenews.net/articles/how-the-death-of-a-mega-turbine-rattled-us-offshore-wind-2, and from M. Gallucci, “Three NY Offshore Wind Projects Unravel After GE Scraps Turbine Plans”, Canary Media, 22 April 2024, https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/wind/three-ny-offshore-wind-projects-unravel-after-ge-scraps-turbine-plans.134
  135. Additional offshore wind targets around the world that were added or increased in 2023 include: Victoria, Australia published a plan to achieve at least 2 GW of offshore wind by 2032, 4 GW by 2035 and 9 GW by 2040; the Republic of Korea aims for 13.4 GW of offshore wind power capacity by 2030, up from 133 MW at the end of 2023, under the 10th Basic Plan for Power Distribution (published in 2023); and Viet Nam aims for 6 GW offshore by 2030 and 91 GW by 2050, all from GWEC, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, pp. 105, 130, 135, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024.135
  136. GWEC, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 142, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024.136
  137. R. Norris, “Global Floating Offshore Wind Project Pipeline Grows by One-third over 12 Months”, RenewableUK, 4 October 2023, https://www.renewableuk.com/news/654282/Global-floating-offshore-wind-project-pipeline-grows-by-one-third-over-12-months-.htm. As of late 2023, 46 MW of floating offshore wind capacity was under construction; outside of Europe, most development is of the western coast of the United States, Australia and the Republic of Korea, all from idem.137
  138. Total of 19 in 2023 and 2022 includes China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Viet Nam in Asia; Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Sweden, Portugal, Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Norway and Finland in Europe; and the United States. Same countries in 2021, except for Italy. All based on data from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030, from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, and from GWEC, “Global Wind Statistics 2024”, unpublished document.138
  139. China data and top countries from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; European country data from WindEurope, “Wind Energy in Europe – 2023 Statistics and the Outlook for 2024-2030”, 2024, pp. 10, 11, https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-2023-statistics-and-the-outlook-for-2024-2030; offshore capacity in Germany was 8,311 MW and in the Netherlands was 4,759 MW, from GWEC, op. cit. this note. 139
  140. Based on data from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 149, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024. At the end of 2021, Europe had slightly more than 50% of global installed offshore wind power capacity; this fell to just over 47% in 2022, based on data from GWEC, “Global Wind Report 2023”, 2023, p. 102, https://gwec.net/globalwindreport2023. 140
  141. Anthony Vassallo, Allianz Commercial, cited in M. Bates, “Offshore Wind Presenting New Slew of Unique Challenges and Risks”, North American Windpower, 22 September 2023, https://nawindpower.com/offshore-wind-presenting-new-slew-of-unique-challenges-and-risks. 141
  142. M. Le Dain, “Wind Power Companies Struggle Amid Rapid Industry Growth”, Forbes, 25 June 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/markledain/2023/06/25/wind-power-companies-struggle-amid-rapid-industry-growth,; A.J. Chacko, “Chinese Wind Turbines Set New Record of Orders Amidst Profit Pinch”, Interesting Engineering, 25 February 2024, https://interestingengineering.com/energy/chinese-wind-turbine-orders.142
  143. Asia and Europe and focus of activities from International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and European Patent Office, “Offshore Wind Energy Patent Insights Report”, cited in IRENA, “Offshore Wind Patents On the Rise, New Study by IRENA and EPO Shows”, November 2023, https://www.irena.org/News/articles/2023/Nov/Offshore-wind-patents-on-the-rise-new-study-by-IRENA-and-EPO-shows; price pressure from Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 113, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024. In China, for example, the industry continued to advance and put into operation specialised construction and transport vessels for offshore wind to bring down costs and move projects farther from shore. Further, four floating offshore prototypes were installed in Chinese waters during 2023, all from Guiyong Yu, Chinese Wind Energy Association, presentation for World Wind Energy Association, “#WWEAwebinar: Wind Power Around the World”, 10 April 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduI2WPpIIw. 143
  144. Optimise cost and performance from, for example: US Department of Energy, “Land-Based Wind Market Report: 2023 Edition”, 2023, p. ix, https://emp.lbl.gov/wind-technologies-market-report; B. Storrow and H. Richards, “How the Death of a Mega-turbine Rattled US Offshore Wind”, E&E News, 22 April 2024, https://www.eenews.net/articles/how-the-death-of-a-mega-turbine-rattled-us-offshore-wind-2; M. Gallucci, “Three NY Offshore Wind Projects Unravel After GE Scraps Turbine Plans”, Canary Media, 22 April 2024, https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/wind/three-ny-offshore-wind-projects-unravel-after-ge-scraps-turbine-plans; A. Blackburne, “Race for Ever-Larger Wind Turbines Might Be Unsustainable”, S&P Global Market Intelligence, 8 May 2023, https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/race-for-ever-larger-wind-turbines-might-be-unsustainable-75519950; average turbine sizes from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) Market Intelligence, “Global Wind Market Development: Supply Side Data 2023”, 2024, unpublished document, and from F. Zhao, GWEC, personal communication with REN21, 6 May 2024. The global average turbine size in 2023 was larger than 5,000 kW, an increase of 898 kW over the 2022 average; the average onshore turbine size was 4,841 kW and the average offshore turbine was 9,578 kW, from GWEC, op. cit. this note and from Feng, op. cit. this note.144
  145. See, for example, Maritime Executive, “Mingyang Surprises Wind Industry with Plans for 22 MW Offshore Turbines”, 23 October 2023, https://maritime-executive.com/article/mingyang-surprises-wind-industry-with-plans-for-22-mw-offshore-turbines, and A-M. Dedene, “China's Growing Offshore Wind Energy Drive”, The Diplomat, 31 October 2023, https://thediplomat.com/2023/10/chinas-growing-offshore-wind-energy-drive.145
  146. The 10-12 MW range from, for example: O. Jenkinson, “Goldwind Unveils New 7.8MW Onshore Wind Turbine”, Windpower Monthly, 25 September 2023, https://www.windpowermonthly.com/article/1838459/goldwind-unveils-new-78mw-onshore-wind-turbine; SANY, “SANY Renewable Energy Is Gearing Up for Husum Wind 2023”, 9 September 2023, https://www.sanyglobal.com/press_releases/1167; A. Lee, “Goldwind Plans Record-Sized 12MW Onshore Turbine as China's Giants Race Away from West”, Recharge News, 15 May 2023, https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/goldwind-plans-record-sized-12mw-onshore-turbine-as-chinas-giants-race-away-from-west/2-1-1451254; Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 53, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; SANY from idem, p. 113. In addition, Brazil's oil giant Petrobas announced plans to jump into the wind sector to develop a 7 MW turbine, from A. Lee, “Petrobras Turns Wind Turbine Maker as Brazilian Oil Player Plans Giant Model”, Recharge News, 13 September 2023, https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/petrobras-turns-wind-turbine-maker-as-brazilian-oil-player-plans-giant-model/2-1-1517627, and from E.P. Cruz, “Petrobas, WEG Partner Up to Build 7 MW Onshore Wind Turbine”, Agência Brasil, 14 September 2023, https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/en/economia/noticia/2023-09/petrobras-weg-partner-build-7-mw-onshore-wind-turbine. 146
  147. The 14-18 MW range from M. Bates, “Offshore Wind Presenting New Slew of Unique Challenges and Risks”, North American Windpower, 22 September 2023, https://nawindpower.com/offshore-wind-presenting-new-slew-of-unique-challenges-and-risks. Plans and announcements include, for example: Vestas received certification for a 15 MW model in 2023, from C. Crownhart, “What's Next for Offshore Wind”, Technology Review, 10 January 2024, https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/01/10/1086354/whats-next-for-offshore-wind; Goldwind and Mingyang both installed 16 MW machines, from M. Lewis, “The World's Largest Wind Turbine Is Now Being Installed in China”, Electrek, 26 June 2023, https://electrek.co/2023/06/26/the-worlds-largest-wind-turbine-is-now-being-installed-in-china; M. Lewis, “A Massive 16 MW Offshore Wind Turbine Is Now Online in China”, Electrek, 19 July 2023, https://electrek.co/2023/07/19/16-mw-offshore-wind-turbine; Mingyang produced its first 18 MW nacelle, from World Energy, “Mingyang Produces First 18 MW Offshore Wind Nacelle”, 14 December 2023, https://www.world-energy.org/article/38927.html, and unveiled an 18 MW typhoon-proof prototype, from A. Paleja, “Chinese Firm Unveils ‘World's First' Typhoon-Proof 18 MW Wind Turbine”, Interesting Engineering, 14 December 2023, https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/18-mw-turbine-works-in-typhoons; Goldwind also unveiled an 18 MW typhoon-proof model, from A. Paleja, “Siemens Gamesa to Deploy World's Most Powerful Wind Turbine in Denmark”, Interesting Engineering, 11 January 2024, https://interestingengineering.com/energy/worlds-most-powerful-wind-turbine-siemens; GE announced plans for an 18 MW turbine, from idem; Mingyang released an 18-20 MW model, from Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 56, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024, and the company revealed plans for a 22 MW turbine, which will stand taller than the Eiffel Tower, from Maritime Executive, “Mingyang Surprises Wind Industry with Plans for 22 MW Offshore Turbines”, 23 October 2023, https://maritime-executive.com/article/mingyang-surprises-wind-industry-with-plans-for-22-mw-offshore-turbines. In early 2024, it was revealed that Siemens Gamesa is scaling its 14 MW turbine up to 21 MW, from E. de Vries, “On My Radar with Eize de Vries: Siemens Gamesa Likely to Produce a (No-Longer Secret) 21MW Direct-Drive Turbine”, Windpower Monthly, 18 April 2024, https://www.windpowermonthly.com/article/1869311/radar-eize-de-vries-siemens-gamesa-likely-produce-no-longer-secret-21mw-direct-drive-turbine, and from Reve, “Siemens Gamesa Will lnstall a Wind Turbine of Around 21 MW and Between 270 and 280 Meters in Rotor Diameter”, 23 April 2024, https://www.evwind.es/2024/04/23/siemens-gamesa-will-install-a-wind-turbine-of-around-21-mw-and-between-270-and-280-meters-in-rotor-diameter/98039. For more on China turbine data, see Guiyong Yu, Chinese Wind Energy Association, presentation for World Wind Energy Association, “#WWEAwebinar: Wind Power Around the World”, 10 April 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduI2WPpIIw. 147
  148. See, for example: N. Chestney, “Analysis: Wind Power Industry Drifts Off Course”, Reuters, 28 September 2023, https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/wind-power-industry-drifts-off-course-2023-09-28; C. Sanderson, “‘Bigger Turbines, Bigger Problems': Warning Over Wind Power Arms Race Quality Toll”, Recharge News, 20 October 2023, https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/-bigger-turbines-bigger-problems-warning-over-wind-power-arms-race-quality-toll/2-1-1538095; M. Le Dain, “Wind Power Companies Struggle Amid Rapid Industry Growth”, Forbes, 25 June 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/markledain/2023/06/25/wind-power-companies-struggle-amid-rapid-industry-growth; A. Blackburne, “Race for Ever-Larger Wind Turbines Might Be Unsustainable”, S&P Global Market Intelligence, 8 May 2023, https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/race-for-ever-larger-wind-turbines-might-be-unsustainable-75519950; Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, pp. 13, 44, 52, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024. See also GWEC, “Mission Critical: Building the Global Wind Energy Supply Chain for a 1.5°C World”, 2023, https://gwec.net/supplychainreport2023.148
  149. M. Lewis, “What's the Problem with Siemens Gamesa's Onshore Wind Turbines? [Update}”, Electrek, 18 September 2023, https://electrek.co/2023/09/18/siemens-gamesas-onshore-wind-turbines; W. Mathis, W. Eckl-Dorna and R. Orihuela, “Wind Turbines That Shake and Break Cost Their Maker Billions”, Bloomberg, 29 June 2023, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-29/wind-turbines-that-shake-and-break-cost-their-maker-billions; D. Proctor, “Siemens Gamesa Changes CEO, Announces Job Cuts as Part of New Focus”, Power Magazine, 8 May 2024, https://www.powermag.com/siemens-gamesa-changes-ceo-announces-job-cuts-as-part-of-new-focus. See also D.R. Baker, S. Kishan and J.A. Dlouhy, “A $30 Billion Meltdown in Clean Energy Puts Biden's Climate Goals at Risk”, MSN, 29 November 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/a-30-billion-meltdown-in-clean-energy-puts-biden-s-climate-goals-at-risk/ar-AA1kKwBk, and C. Ryan, “The Bill for Offshore Wind Power Is Rising”, Wall Street Journal, 22 November 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/the-bill-for-offshore-wind-power-is-rising/ar-AA1klBRh.149
  150. Global Wind Energy Council, “Global Wind Report 2024”, 2024, p. 44, https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024; A. Blackburne, “Race for Ever-Larger Wind Turbines Might Be Unsustainable”, S&P Global Market Intelligence, 8 May 2023, https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/race-for-ever-larger-wind-turbines-might-be-unsustainable-75519950. 150
  151. See, for example: D. Dehoorne and F. Henseler, “‘It's Time to Slow Down on Turbines If We Really Want to Scale Up the Offshore Wind Industry'”, Vestas, accessed 11 May 2024, https://www.vestas.com/en/media/blog/technology/-it-s-time-to-slow-down-on-turbines-if-we-really-want-to-scale-u; R. Morison, “Wind Turbines Are Big Enough for Now, Vestas CEO Says”, Bloomberg, 16 January 2023, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-16/wind-turbines-are-big-enough-for-now-vestas-ceo-says; A. Blackburne, “Race for Ever-Larger Wind Turbines Might Be Unsustainable”, S&P Global Market Intelligence, 8 May 2023, https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/race-for-ever-larger-wind-turbines-might-be-unsustainable-75519950; R. Beene and J. Saul, “Wind Turbines Taller Than the Statue of Liberty Are Falling Over”, Bloomberg, 23 January 2023, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-23/wind-turbine-collapses-punctuate-green-power-growing-pains; S. Cuthrell, “GE Vernova Pivots to Smaller Wind Turbines”, EE Power, 22 March 2024, https://eepower.com/news/ge-vernova-pivots-to-smaller-wind-turbines; B. Storrow and H. Richards, “How the Death of a Mega-turbine Rattled US Offshore Wind”, E&E News, 22 April 2024, https://www.eenews.net/articles/how-the-death-of-a-mega-turbine-rattled-us-offshore-wind-2; M. Gallucci, “Three NY Offshore Wind Projects Unravel After GE Scraps Turbine Plans”, Canary Media, 22 April 2024, https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/wind/three-ny-offshore-wind-projects-unravel-after-ge-scraps-turbine-plans; B. Radowitz, “‘Will Take Time Before We See' 10MW-plus Onshore Wind Turbines in Europe: Nordex”, Recharge News, 2 April 2024, https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/will-take-time-before-we-see-10mw-plus-onshore-wind-turbines-in-europe-nordex/2-1-1610605.151
  152. “Siemens Gamesa, Vestas Sign Collaboration Deal”, Renews, 13 December 2023, https://renews.biz/90105/siemens-gamesa-vestas-sign-collaboration-deal. Siemens Gamesa acknowledgements from Tim Dawidowsky, COO and sustainability officer, Siemens Gamesa, cited in A. Blackburne, “Race for Ever-Larger Wind Turbines Might Be Unsustainable”, S&P Global Market Intelligence, 8 May 2023, https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/race-for-ever-larger-wind-turbines-might-be-unsustainable-75519950; 21-MW prototype from E. de Vries, “On My Radar with Eize de Vries: Siemens Gamesa Likely to Produce a (No-Longer Secret) 21MW Direct-Drive Turbine”, Windpower Monthly, 18 April 2024, https://www.windpowermonthly.com/article/1869311/radar-eize-de-vries-siemens-gamesa-likely-produce-no-longer-secret-21mw-direct-drive-turbine; Reve, “Siemens Gamesa Will lnstall a Wind Turbine of Around 21 MW and Between 270 and 280 Meters in Rotor Diameter”, 23 April 2024, https://www.evwind.es/2024/04/23/siemens-gamesa-will-install-a-wind-turbine-of-around-21-mw-and-between-270-and-280-meters-in-rotor-diameter/98039.152
  153. B. Storrow and H. Richards, “How the Death of a Mega-turbine Rattled US Offshore Wind”, E&E News, 22 April 2024, https://www.eenews.net/articles/how-the-death-of-a-mega-turbine-rattled-us-offshore-wind-2; M. Gallucci, “Three NY Offshore Wind Projects Unravel After GE Scraps Turbine Plans”, Canary Media, 22 April 2024, https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/wind/three-ny-offshore-wind-projects-unravel-after-ge-scraps-turbine-plans.153

Report Citation:
REN21. 2024. Renewables 2024 Global Status Report collection, Renewables in Energy Supply

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