A recent report indicates that 2023 witnessed the largest year for new wind power projects globally.
Published by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), the Global Wind Report revealed that the world saw the development of 117 gigawatts of new wind power capacity, marking a significant 50 percent increase from 2022.
The report delves into the current state of the global wind industry and the challenges it faces in its expansion.
According to the report, the surge in wind power signifies a positive step forward in the fight against climate change.
However, the authors of the report cautioned that the wind industry must ramp up its annual growth to at least 320 gigawatts by 2030 to meet the targets outlined in the international climate agreement, COP 28. This agreement calls for three times more renewable energy generation capacity by 2030 and aims to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
GWEC CEO Ben Backwell expressed satisfaction with the increased growth in the wind industry, stating, “It’s great to see wind industry growth picking up, and we are proud of reaching a new annual record.”
George Aluru, from the Electricity Sector Association of Kenya, emphasized the growing recognition of wind power’s value as a renewable energy source worldwide.
Renewable energy, including wind power, is widely acknowledged as a crucial tool for mitigating the risks of climate change, being the most cost-effective form of electricity in many regions globally.
The world’s total wind power capacity currently stands at approximately 1,020 gigawatts.
Similar to 2022, China led the way for new wind power installations in 2023, accounting for 65 percent of new operations. The United States, Brazil, and Germany followed. These four countries collectively represented 77 percent of new wind power capacity worldwide last year.
The top five wind power markets at the end of 2023 were China, the U.S., Germany, India, and Spain.
Moreover, several other countries and regions observed significant growth in wind energy in 2023.
Africa and the Middle East added nearly one gigawatt of wind power capacity in 2023, nearly tripling the figure from the previous year. With upcoming projects in South Africa, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, the report forecasts that new onshore wind additions for Africa and the Middle East will grow fivefold by 2028 compared to 2023.
Kenya, a standout market, where wind power accounts for approximately 17 percent of electricity, boasts the largest wind farm in Africa—the 310-megawatt Lake Turkana Wind Power Project.
Additionally, the report highlights plans for new significant wind projects in Kenya, including a one-gigawatt wind park by local power generator KenGen.