Global wind capacity additions to hit 170 GW in 2025

China will account for the majority of this growth.

The wind industry is set to install a record 170 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity by the end of 2025, according to Wood Mackenzie.

In its latest market outlook, Wood Mackenzie said the global wind sector could connect more than 70 GW in the fourth quarter alone, marking a record quarter with gross capacity additions that exceed the total annual additions of any year before 2020.

“The forecast shows a 13% quarter-on-quarter upgrade driven by substantial onshore growth in China, with global wind capacity set to double from 2024 levels by 2032,” the analysis said.

Despite setbacks in key markets, such as the US, the industry will achieve historic scale over the next decade. Excluding China, global cumulative wind capacity will reach 1 terawatt in 2031, with global capacity doubling from 2024 levels by 2034.

Policy frameworks that once reliably drove wind sector growth are now creating significant uncertainty across major markets, challenging this trajectory. Wood Mackenzie maintains a cautious outlook, yet unprecedented industry expansion remains evident.

Specifically in Beijing, Sasha Bond-Smith, research analyst at Wood Mackenzie, said there is “unequalled concentration of growth in China that's reshaping the industry landscape."

“However, the offshore wind sector in China faces considerable challenges, with sea-use conflicts severely disrupting project timelines and halting construction even for projects already underway,” the analysis said.

Meanwhile, onshore projects continue to progress across Europe, the Asia Pacific, and emerging markets, supported by tender outcomes and robust project pipelines. However, green hydrogen market slowdowns still limit related upside potential for wind development.

“Whilst achieving historic scale, success will depend on how effectively the industry navigates this new geography of growth and adapts to evolving policy landscapes,” said Kárys Prado, senior research analyst at Wood Mackenzie.