The global wind industry posted its second-best year of expansion in 2021. The almost 94 GW of capacity added was just 1.8% less than the year-over-year wind energy growth rate in 2020.

However, trends documented in the Global Wind Report 2022 from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) indicate that growth must quadruple by the end of the decade if the world is to stay on course for a 1.5° C pathway and net zero by 2050.

Global capacity increased by 93.6 GW to bring total cumulative wind power capacity to 837 GW, which is year-over-year growth of 12%. The world’s two biggest markets, China and the U.S., installed less new onshore wind capacity last year — 30.7 GW and 12.7 GW, respectively — as other regions enjoyed record years. Europe, Latin America, and Africa and the Middle East increased new onshore installations by 19%, 27% and 120%, respectively.

The global wind industry posted its second-best year of expansion in 2021. Source: GWEC

To sustain and increase growth in wind-based generation capacity, policymakers are urged to streamline the procedures to grant permits, including land allocation and grid connection projects. Workforce planning for large-scale renewables deployment should be an early policy priority and investment in grids must treble from current levels through to 2030.