Wind sector reports record: 117 GW of new capacity commissioned last year

A record 117 GW of new wind power capacity was commissioned worldwide in 2023, bringing total installed capacity above 1 TW. China was the main driver of this growth, commissioning wind farms with a total installed capacity of 75 GW. This is according to the Global Wind Report compiled by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).

The wind sector recovered from the weak results of 2022, when new wind capacity fell by almost 20% year on year. Driven in particular by a sharp 106% year-on-year increase in new capacity in Asia, newly installed capacity grew by 50% to a record 117 GW.

Alongside record growth in total installed wind capacity, onshore wind farms also saw record growth, with 106 GW commissioned. With 11 GW of new installed capacity, last year was the second-best on record for offshore wind farms. However, it fell far short of the record set in 2021, when 21 GW of new wind capacity was commissioned offshore.

"Growth is heavily concentrated in the five largest markets, including China, the United States, Brazil and Germany, and we need more countries to remove barriers and improve market conditions to accelerate wind power development," said Ben Backwell, CEO of GWEC.

In response to last year's developments, the association raised its forecast for growth in installed wind capacity over 2024-2030 by 10% to 1 210 GW. However, it noted that annual additions to installed wind capacity will need to reach 320 GW by 2030 to meet the targets set at the COP28 climate conference.

"The Global Wind Report provides a roadmap for achieving this goal. GWEC calls on policymakers, investors and communities to work together across key areas, from investment and supply chains to infrastructure and public opinion, to create the conditions for accelerating wind energy development through 2030 and beyond," the association added.