International Wind Power Generation

Could wind power be the world's largest generation source?

Wind power could cover more than one-third of global power needs (35%), becoming the world’s foremost generation source. To fulfil this aim, the world’s installed wind power capacity must reach 6 000 gigawatts – over 10 times the current level – by 2050. This would include 5 000 GW of onshore wind and 1 000 GW of offshore wind.

How did wind power grow in 2022?

In 2022 wind electricity generation increased by a record 265 TWh (up 14%), reaching more than 2 100 TWh. This was the second highest growth among all renewable power technologies, behind solar PV.

Where can wind power be produced?

According to IRENA's latest data, the production of wind electricity in 2016 accounted for a 6% of the electricity generated by renewables. Many parts of the world have strong wind speeds, but the best locations for generating wind power are sometimes remote ones. Offshore wind power offers tremendous potential.

Why is wind power generation important?

Another contribution of wind power generation is that it allows countries to diversify their energy mix, which is especially important in countries where hydropower is a large component. The expansion of wind power generation requires a robust understanding of its variability and thus how to reduce uncertainties associated with wind power output.

How is long-term wind power generation potential estimated?

To do so, long-term wind power generation potential is estimated using MCP techniques and the Weibull distribution probability density function to calculate the energy density and estimate energy production. The studies that perform forecasting use a single step (8% of the studies), multiple steps (29%) or do not report the aspect (63%). 3.1.3.

Will wind power increase in the future?

Therefore, the outlook is for increasing participation on wind power in the future, up to at least 18% of global power by 2050 according to the International Energy Agency (IEA, 2013).