New data issued by GWEC – the Global Wind Energy Council – has highlighted how more wind turbines went up in China during 2009 than in the United States, or across Europe as a whole. On this basis, the country’s overall wind power capacity increased by close to 50 per cent, with 13 gigawatts added in 2009, whereas the US added just under ten gigawatts and, Europe, ten-and-a-half, it said.

Steve Sawyer – Secretary General at the council – emphasised the popularity of this renewable energy source, even within the context of shattered world economies. “The continued rapid growth of wind power, despite the financial crisis and economic downturn, is testament to the inherent attractiveness of the technology”, he stressed.

Wind Turbines: China

While having attracted criticism for its relatively low-key role in the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference (as other nations see it), China remains highly involved in developing and deploying new green technologies and strategies – and wind turbines are one part of this. “The Chinese government is taking very seriously its responsibility to limit carbon dioxide emissions while providing energy for its growing economy”, Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association Secretary General, Li Junfeng, said.

And – according to one European Wind Energy Association – it’s the idea that the cost of fossil fuels will rise significantly that’s pushing investors towards wind energy-based initiatives, instead. “If I were an investor, I'd want to limit my exposure to uncertain fuel prices”, association Chief Executive, Christian Kjaer, asserted in comments made to the press.

Wind Power in China

Despite its performance in 2009, wind power in China still provides a mere 1.5 per cent of the country’s overall electricity.

Within Europe, it was Spain that added the most new wind power capacity in Europe last year – 2.5 gigawatts. The remainder of the new wind power top-five was made up of Germany, Italy, France and the UK.

World wind power capacity ,meanwhile, reached 158 gigawatts – an increase of over 30 per cent compared to 2008. This being the case, said Sawyer, 204 million tons of CO2 – which would have been produced if fossil fuels were burnt instead - was stopped from entering the atmosphere.

See also:

29% Worldwide Wind Power Increase in 2008