Gone with the Wind: Ranking the Top Wind Energy Nations (2018 to 2023)
The rapid expansion of wind power has marked a monumental shift in the global energy landscape over the past few years. As nations across the globe pursue long term sustainability through greener energy solutions and grapple with the urgent need to decarbonise their economies to meet ambitious climate targets, wind energy has emerged as a fundamental component of these efforts. Recognised as one of the most viable, scalable, and fastest growing renewable energy sources, countries have made substantial investments in wind energy infrastructure, fuelling remarkable growth. In this article, we examine the top 10 countries leading in wind power installations from 2018 to 2023, shedding light on the evolving landscape of this sector and the global frontrunners propelling this renewable energy movement.
2018
In 2018, China cemented its dominance in the wind energy sector with an outstanding installed capacity of 184,664.9 MW. This expansion was primarily driven by robust government support, including subsidies and incentives under the Renewable Energy Law, coupled with declining manufacturing and installation costs. Investments were further strengthened by grid infrastructure upgrades helping resolve curtailment, especially in the northern regions. The United States ranked second with 94,666.2 MW, just over half of China’s total, where advancements in turbine efficiency made wind power increasingly competitive with fossil fuels. Federal measures like the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and aggressive Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) in states such as California significantly boosted wind energy development.
Germany followed reaching an installed capacity of 58,721 MW, spurred on by the energy transition Energiewende policy, aimed at reducing emissions by 40% by 2020 and raising the proportion of renewables in the electricity sector to 65% by 2030. Efforts to replace older turbines with more efficient models helped maximise energy output on existing sites. India also saw notable progress, with its wind capacity rising to 35,288.1 MW. This growth was largely propelled by the Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, tax benefits for wind projects, falling generation costs, and ambitious renewable energy goals aligned with its Paris Agreement commitments. Meanwhile, in fifth place, Spain reached 23,405.1 MW, bolstered by the country’s commitment to the European Union’s renewable energy targets, successful auctions and falling costs enhanced project viability.
Elsewhere, other significant players included the UK with an installed capacity of 21,605.6 MW, thanks to government backed policies like the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme and its commitment to reducing emissions under the Climate Change Act. France, although smaller in scale, achieved 14,900.1 MW, bolstered by ongoing subsidies such as feed-in tariffs and the introduction of onshore wind auction systems aimed at promoting renewable energy. Brazil followed closely with 14,843.1 MW, with its auction system for renewable energy providing long-term power purchase agreements, catalysing the development of wind farms across the country. Canada’s wind power capacity stood at 12,816 MW, supported by both federal and provincial policies that prioritised clean energy alongside falling costs and the adoption of larger, more efficient turbines. Italy, too, contributed to global growth, reaching 10,230.2 MW as government incentives and cost reductions made wind power a worthwhile alternative.
2019
As the wind power industry gathered momentum in 2019, China surged ahead, expanding its capacity to 209,581.9 MW. With national energy policies focused on cutting coal dependence and boosting renewable energy and domestic turbine manufacturers like Goldwind and Envision supplying cost-effective, efficient turbines, developers raced to complete projects before the reduction of feed-in tariffs for onshore wind installations took effect, pushing growth and investments into high gear. Similarly, the United States also made progress, reaching 103,835.6 MW as developers rushed to secure projects before the upcoming PTC phased out. Additionally, the falling cost of wind energy made it increasingly attractive for both large-scale utilities and eco-conscious corporations, with corporate giants like Walmart and AT&T increasing investments through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to meet sustainability goals.
Despite facing public opposition, permitting, legal and administrative delays, Germany managed to maintain its third place with 60,742 MW, benefiting from its auction system and subsidies for renewable projects, which reduced costs and facilitated large-scale projects, while wind turbine technology improvements and repowering measures boosted efficiency. India’s wind sector also experienced a number of challenges such as auction cancellations, PPA renegotiations, payment delays, a slowing economy, land acquisition issues, curtailment, infrastructure limitations, low tariffs and tariff caps. However, its capacity rose to 37,505.2 MW, driven primarily by political ambition and the ever increasing demand for energy. In contrast, Spain experienced stable growth in wind power, spurred on by concerted efforts complete projects before government support cuts and the successful deployment of the first offshore wind turbine off the coast of Gran Canaria. Additionally, towards the end of the year urgent initiatives like the ‘reasonable return’ law to extend premium rates for renewable energy, alongside the closure of thermal power plants and the unveiling of new regulations and streamlined procedures for wind farm development in the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 (NECP), propelled the country's installed wind power capacity to 25,590 MW.
Meanwhile, the UK reached 23,886.9 MW, driven by successful CfD auctions and public commitment to sustainability, followed by France with 16,426.9 MW, that saw rising investments fuelled by new targets set under the government’s Energy Transition for Green Growth Act, the updated Pluriannual Energy Program (PPE) and notable progress in offshore wind development, including the construction of the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind park and the award of the Dunkerque wind park tender. Brazil’s capacity hit 15,438.4 MW, aided by favourable regulations, a stronger free market (ACL) with increased competition and lower auction prices, a nationally interconnected transmission system, technological advancements, and a restructured equipment supply chain facilitating global procurement for O&M machinery and services. In Canada, provincial targets in regions like Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Ontario along with technological advancements fuelled growth to 13,220 MW. Italy rounded off the top ten with 10,679.5 MW installed capacity, encouraged by the National Energy and Climate Action Plan's 2030 renewable energy targets and R&D support for innovations like floating offshore wind technology.
2020
Amidst the widespread challenges, obstacles and disruptions of 2020, the wind energy sector pressed forward, sustaining its global growth and expansion. By year’s end, China’s wind energy sector catapulted to unprecedented levels, reaching a record shattering 281,992.7 MW, doubling the additions from the previous year. This extraordinary feat was largely achieved through the nation’s relentless commitment to green energy, especially as part of its post COVID-19 pandemic recovery efforts, the impending expiration of subsidies for onshore wind projects that prompted developers to fast-track installations in order to meet the year-end deadline and technological innovations, such as larger and more efficient turbines, fuelled the rapid expansion of large-scale wind projects. Meanwhile, the United States sustained substantial growth despite initial project delays caused by the pandemic, achieving 118,663.5 MW of wind capacity, with stimulus measures and the extension of PTC incentives promoting a late-year installation surge. Much like in China, the looming expiry of full PTC benefits in the U.S. triggered a record number of installations as developers raced to capitalise on the incentives. Also, the decline of wind energy costs alongside growing demand for cleaner energy from both consumers and corporations further supported the development of major wind power projects, particularly in states like Texas and Iowa.
In Europe, Germany’s installations rose to 62,201 MW encouraged by the Climate Action Plan 2030, with wind power playing a central role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, offshore wind power gaining traction, supportive carbon pricing mechanisms, and improved infrastructure all pushing industries towards renewable energy adoption and ramping up wind energy investments. Despite the pandemic slowdown, India grew its wind power capacity to 38,558.6 MW, thanks to the government's focus on renewable energy targets, with entities like the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) refining supportive policies, and regional regulators, such as the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC), introducing incentives like transmission charge waivers and the removal of fixed, generic tariffs to encourage competitive bidding and private sector investment, while a strong domestic manufacturing base further supported growth. Spain too maintained momentum reaching 26,819.2 MW installed wind energy capacity, driven the implementation of Spain's National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) 2021-2030, the introduction of supportive policies, such as Royal Decree Law 23/2020, that streamlined permitting processes and grid access regulations for wind projects, economic stimuli packages like the EU’s Green Deal and Recovery Plan, that aimed at mitigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased investment in research and development for offshore wind projects, particularly floating applications.
Other notable contributors to wind power expansion included the UK with 24,458 MW capacity, bolstered by supportive government policies like the ten-point to Build Back Greener recovery plan, regulatory frameworks, technological advancements, and substantial investments into offshore windfarms such as Dogger Bank Wind Farm and East Anglia One. At 17,535.3 MW, France ranked seventh, demonstrating its renewable energy commitment through enacting the Pluriannual Energy Program (PPE) decree which specifically targeted the expansion of wind power and focusing on further developing offshore projects. Brazil’s capacity climbed to 17,198.3 MW, sustained by robust free-market investments, socio-environmental benefits, and a strong commitment to green economic recovery and sustainability. In Canada, installations increased to 13,532 MW, benefiting from increased R&D funding, supportive net-zero emissions policies, and ambitious provincial renewable energy targets. Meanwhile, Italy reached 10,870.6 MW installed wind power capacity, due to government incentives including fixed energy purchase prices, support for diverse projects, technological advancements, like floating offshore, and strategic installations in high-potential regions such as Apulia, Sicily, and Calabria, which enabled effective expansion despite pandemic challenges.
2021
Once more China took the lead in 2021, with an impressive 328,973.4 MW installed capacity despite the expiration of subsidies for onshore wind projects. With progress being fuelled by ambitious clean energy targets outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan, 2060 carbon neutrality pledges, and government policies promoting grid parity, reducing curtailment, expanding distributed wind power and development in the vast desert and Gobi regions. Meanwhile technological advancements in turbine capacity and grid integration spurred on large-scale offshore installations, as leading domestic manufacturers strengthened their dominance in national and international markets. Across the Pacific, the U.S. wind energy sector reached 133,019.3 MW, driven by sweeping federal climate goals and renewable energy initiatives established by the new administration, including targets of 30 GW for offshore wind and a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, coupled with state-level clean energy standards and the late 2020 extension of the PTC which provided crucial support for ongoing projects. Additionally, falling costs, improvements in the performance of wind power technologies, grid benefits, and increased research funding enabled accelerated expansion across onshore, distributed, and offshore, exemplified by the construction of Vineyard Wind, the nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm.
With 63,711 MW of installed wind capacity, Germany ranked next, benefiting from the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) of 2021, which aimed for carbon neutral electricity supply and consumption before 2050 and offered incentives for municipal financial involvement. Additionally, increased competitive tendering, advances in turbine capacity, targeted repowering initiatives, high market prices, and an improvement in the permitting situation bolstered installations and efficiency. India continued its upward trajectory where installations rose to 40,067.3 MW as it pursued cleaner energy sources to meet ambitious government targets, including 140 GW from wind by 2030. Growth was further encouraged by a high wind potential of 695.5 GW, the announcement of the National Hydrogen Mission, improved grid integration initiatives, strategic public-private partnerships, robust domestic production and a strong supply chain for wind turbines and key components such as gearboxes. Spain, too, made progress with 27,907.7 MW installed wind capacity, propelled by the government’s commitment to meet renewable goals through initiatives like the newly approved Offshore Wind Roadmap for 3 GW of floating offshore wind and increased funding to promote self-consumption and renewable energy storage with grants ranging from 20% to 70% for small wind installations, while auctions at competitive prices and additional funding allocated to extension-of-life strategies for wind farms further supported expansion.
In the UK, wind power capacity climbed to 25,748.3 MW, spurred on by government funding and the fourth round of the CfD scheme, along with rising energy demand, enhanced offshore turbine efficiency, and increased supply chain investment as contributing factors. Brazil’s dynamic wind power expansion elevated it to seventh place, overtaking France with a total of 21,161.3 MW, driven by rising electricity demand, the economic recovery, industry consolidation, with new developments in green hydrogen, hybrid project regulations and offshore wind implementation fuelling investment. Despite falling behind, France achieved 18,551.1 MW installed wind energy capacity through new renewable energy targets, updated policy measures, and revised tender processes, which increased onshore and offshore installations. Meanwhile, in Canada, stricter climate targets, supportive provincial initiatives, substantial government funding strategies like the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) bolstered ongoing efforts towards net-zero emissions by 2050, with increasing turbine sizes and lower project costs contributing to installations reaching 13,722 MW. Sweden entered the top 10 rankings with 12,116 MW of installed wind power capacity, surpassing Italy and pushing it out of the top 10 entirely. Sweden’s ambitious climate goals, including net-zero emissions by 2045, 100% renewable electricity by 2040, and a 40% emissions reduction by 2030, along with financial incentives such as the electricity certificate scheme, targeted R&D, rising electricity demand, and improved turbine capacity, all accelerated its wind power growth.
2022
By 2022, China led with a whopping 365,964.2 MW of installed capacity, leaving all other contenders in the dust despite the phaseout of subsidies as the country’s wind sector transitioned from a feed-in tariff to a ‘grid parity’ model. This steadfast progress was fuelled by supportive government policies, continued commitment to goals outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan, promoting distributed wind projects in rural areas, strategic regional development in desert and offshore areas, alongside advancements in large-scale turbine technology, including a 27.8% increase in turbine size, the completion of the CNOOC Guanlan floating platform, and the assembly of the world’s first 16 MW and 18 MW offshore wind turbines. The United States saw its wind power capacity rise to 141,673.9 MW, spurred on by ambitious national goals, including a new target of 15 GW for floating offshore wind by 2035, supportive federal initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and an extended PTC which provided tax incentives and funding to boost domestic manufacturing of clean energy components such as wind turbine blades, nacelles, towers, offshore wind foundations, and specialised offshore wind vessels. Additionally, offshore leasing expansions, repowering efforts, advancements in the size and performance of turbines, and increased investments in R&D helped ramp up installations.
Meanwhile, the European energy crisis accelerated wind energy installations and investments, prompting many countries to intensify their renewables expansion and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. By the end of the year, Germany’s total wind capacity stood at 66,163 MW, driven by the new Federal Government applying the concept of ‘overriding public interest’ through initiatives from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) such as the “Easter Package” which aimed to prioritise renewable energy expansion with a target of 80% by 2030, the Offshore Wind Energy Act (WindSeeG) that set a target to expand offshore wind to 40 GW by 2035 and 70 GW by 2045, and the new Windenergie-an-Land-Strategie with a goal of 160 GW for onshore wind by 2035. Growth was further encouraged by key legislative reforms to land use, fast-tracking approvals and advances in wind turbine technology. Propelled by national dedication to 2030 EU targets, robust government support, further expansion of the floating wind supply chain, hybridisation of new and old onshore wind farms with solar PV, and significant R&D investment, particularly in floating applications, wind power capacity rose to 30,113.8 MW in Spain.
India’s wind energy installations reached 41,929.8 MW, benefiting from government policies such as Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO) for wind, the Energy Storage Obligation, and new bidding initiatives for offshore projects.
Rising energy prices, a new government target of 50 GW offshore wind by 2030 under the British Energy Security Strategy, and supportive schemes like the CfD which included floating wind for the first time, boosted UK wind energy installations to 28,762.2 MW, further boosted by the launch of the Floating Offshore Wind Task Force that aims to accelerate deployment, cut costs, and expand the supply chain, alongside the completion of Hornsea 2, the world’s largest offshore wind farm at the time. Brazil retained its spot in seventh place with 24,163.1 MW of wind capacity, fuelled by its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, robust federal government policies such as Decree No. 10,946/2022 which prioritised offshore projects, and a continued shift towards a dynamic free-market approach, favouring corporate power purchase agreements over traditional regulated auctions. Despite a challenging year, France achieved 20,810.6 MW, spurred on by new goals for 50 offshore wind farms totalling 40 GW by 2050, successful auctions and government efforts to accelerate permitting and project development processes for wind installations. Additionally, Saint-Nazaire marked a milestone as the nation’s first fully operational commercial-scale offshore wind farm.
Meanwhile, Canada expanded its wind power capacity to 15,081 MW, bolstered by national and provincial decarbonisation goals, including Nova Scotia’s offshore wind targets for 5 GW by 2030, alongside supportive provincial policies like green technology tax credit in Newfoundland and Labrador and the first deployment of 5 MW turbines in Alberta and Saskatchewan. With 14,279 MW installed capacity, Sweden once again ranked among the top 10, benefiting from government’s pursuit of ambitious energy targets, substantial R&D investments from the Swedish Energy Agency, larger wind turbines, renewed focus on offshore wind development, along with Svenska Kraftnät’s expansion of grid connections to maritime territories and waived grid-connection costs for offshore projects.
2023
Building on achievements from the previous year, the wind energy sector kept moving forward with unwavering momentum in 2023. China’s wind power capacity swelled to a gargantuan 441,895 MW, stimulated by government targets, proactive initiatives such as the National Energy Administration’s (NEA) “Management Measures for the Renovation, Upgrade, and Decommissioning of Wind Farms” which encouraged upgrading older wind farms and individual turbines below 1.5 MW, government support for distributed installations, falling costs of wind generated electricity, the construction of mega wind bases in the Gobi desert and Inner Mongolia, and developments in offshore wind including a shift to deep-sea offshore projects and scaling up from individual to large scale installations. Despite challenges like high interest rates and delays, the USA too experienced growth, reaching a total of 148,019.9 MW. This progress was fuelled by robust federal incentives, such as the IRA and the extended PTC, state-level RPS initiatives, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) leasing efforts in areas like the Gulf of Maine. Advances in technology, including the deployment of larger, more efficient 15 MW turbines, declining costs, significant investments in supply chains and domestic manufacturing, coupled with landmark projects like the South Fork Wind Farm and Rivian’s 2.8 MW project, further boosted installations.
Across the Atlantic, Germany advanced its renewable energy and energy security goals by growing its wind power capacity to 69,459 MW, spurred on by regulatory reforms, increased approval rates that resulted in an 80% rise in onshore wind farm, the adoption of larger turbines averaging 4.7 MW and the Arcadis Ost 1, 257 MW offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea reaching commercial operation. In India installations stood at 44,736.2 MW, benefiting from its intensive pursuit of national targets, its ‘Developed Nation by 2047’ vision, federal initiatives like “Self-reliant India” through “Make-in India”, policy incentives such as ISTS charge waivers, technological advancements, private and international investments, efficient auction mechanisms, and robust domestic manufacturing capabilities driving both domestic and export growth. Meanwhile, Spain's wind installations rose to 31,027.8 MW, propelled by propelled by ambitious national goals, the approval of Marine Spatial Plans (POEM) streamlining development, improvements in turbine technology, and significant investments from industry leaders such as Iberdrola and Siemens Gamesa, which further boosted both onshore and offshore projects.
Again, the UK retained its sixth-place ranking with 30,102.3 MW, driven by government targets, ongoing CfD scheme support, streamlined deployment processes, strategic initiatives like the Whole of Seabed Programme, advanced turbine technologies such as GE Vernova's Haliade-X at Dogger Bank A , and the progress of major projects like Seagreen Phase 1 and Hornsea 4. Brazil was hot on its heels, boasting 29,135.1 MW of installed wind energy capacity, bolstered by the government's focus on the energy transition and a surge in private PPAs due to it thriving free market. Other marked contributors to the global wind landscape included France (20,810.6 MW) and Canada where wind power installations climbed to 16,989.4 MW. This was due to a combination of federal incentives like Clean Economy Investment Tax Credits, large-scale provincial procurement initiatives in regions such as Alberta, technological advancements exemplified by the use of ENERCON E-160 EP5 E3 5.56 MW turbines at the Jenner Wind Power Project, indigenous led projects like the Haeckel Hill Wind Project, the development of offshore wind and green hydrogen in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland & Labrador, supported by robust research and innovation efforts. Sweden followed with 16,252 MW, securing the final spot in the rankings.
Wind Energy Prospects
Wind energy stands as a beacon of the global renewable green energy revolution, harnessing the power of cutting-edge innovation, visionary policies, and an unyielding drive for carbon neutrality. As nations race to expand offshore projects, deploy monumental turbines, and revolutionize grid systems, wind power shatters records and redefines sustainability. This transformative force promises not just a cleaner future, but a bold reimagining of global energy, unlocking unparalleled economic and environmental breakthroughs.
Our Role in Wind Energy
Eland Cables plays an indispensable role in the growth of the global wind energy sector and is at the forefront of powering the renewable landscape by delivering innovative, high-performance cabling solutions essential to the success of wind and other renewable projects worldwide. Our extensive portfolio features industry-leading, expertly engineered cables that form the backbone and lifeblood of critical wind power infrastructure and renewable energy systems. From automation, control, and data cables to low, medium, and high-voltage cables, our products are designed to withstand the rigorous demands of both onshore and offshore wind installations. Each cable is rigorously tested to deliver reliability, durability, safety and performance in compliance with international standards.
At the heart of our mission is a commitment to excellence, creating meaningful change, and driving progress towards a sustainable, cleaner, greener energy future, through solutions that facilitate decarbonisation and champion sustainable energy. With a proven track record in supporting commercial and utility-scale wind initiatives, we utilise state of the art technology and unparalleled industry expertise to enable peak performance, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability. Our bespoke solutions are tailored to the unique challenges of renewable installations, ensuring every project achieves its full potential in driving the energy transition.
Together, we are propelling an electrified future where sustainability reigns. Talk to a member of our Renewable Energy team to discuss your upcoming project and learn more about how we can hep you achieve your goals.
