Global wind energy adds 117 GW of capacity in 2024

China led new installations.

The global wind energy sector sustained its positive momentum in 2024, with 117 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity installed globally, according to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).

In its latest Global Wind Report, GWEC said that last year’s new installations consisted of 109 GW of onshore wind and 8 GW of offshore wind capacity, bringing the global cumulative capacity to 1,136 GW.

Whilst 2024 was another record year for wind installations, GWEC noted that the headline numbers “mask big disparities in terms of the pace of deployment across global markets, with the lion’s share of installations taking place in a small number of key mature markets, including China and Europe.”

Beijing led new installations with nearly 80,000 megawatts (MW), followed by the US (4,058 MW), Germany (4,022 MW), India (3,420 MW), and Brazil (3,420 MW). These markets now make up the top five for total installations, as of the end of 2024.

Looking at some regions, the Asia Pacific saw a 7% year-on-year increase, whilst Africa & Middle East saw a 107% growth, thanks to Egypt installing 794 MW and Saudi Arabia’s 390 MW.

“It's vitally important that policy makers around the world don’t take their eyes of the prize, ensure stable and predictable market frameworks, work within multilateral frameworks to ensure free and fair trade, and work with investors and industry to enable rapid deployment of clean, efficient wind power to support economic growth, resilience, and prosperity,” said  GWEC CEO Ben Backwell.